Alyssa Bothelho has prominent roles in N.C. Dance Theatre's "Nutcracker." (Image: Jeff Cravotta Photography)

“While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads,” are familiar words from Clement Moore’s “The Night before Christmas.”  But sugarplums also bring to mind sugarplum fairies and the familiar music of ”The Nutcracker,” by Tchaikovsky.  Numerous area stages are presenting this holiday classic in different ways but the “full blown” Nutcracker can be found only at Belk Theatre in Charlotte, featuring the Charlotte Symphony and North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT).  What better way to enjoy December than by taking in a performance this weekend or next of this well-known ballet – especially when local talent is on the stage.

Today Around Davidson highlights NCDT dancers Alyssa Botelho, Phoebe Klett, and Christy and Kerry Dennis.  These four young people are in all 12 performances of “Nutcracker.”  What a commitment from the dancers as well as the parents who support them day in and day out.  We also have notes about a special preschoolers tour of Davidson Fire Department and the scoop on a beautiful addition to the family of Gabriel Cumming and Carla Norwood.

ALYSSA BOTELHO

Meet Alyssa Adachi Botelho, who is the daughter of Mauro Botelho and Kazuko Adachi, and sister of Andrew.  Mauro is an Associate Professor of Music at Davidson College and Kazuko is a pianist for the North Carolina Dance Theatre.  Andrew is an 8th grader at Davidson IB School and enjoys swimming.

Seventeen-year-old Alyssa is a native of this area (her family now lives in Huntersville) and a senior at North Mecklenburg High School.  She has been dancing since the age of four and has appeared in various Nutcracker roles over the past ten years.  Now an accomplished dancer en pointe, Alyssa can be found on stage in the first and second act of NCDT’s “Nutcracker,” displaying grace and precision as a beautiful ballerina.  Look for her as part of the “wind” that blows in the snow after the Act 1 fight scene, and in the Italian “Tiramisu” dance in Act 2.

Alyssa dances primarily with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, studying ballet but also training in modern technique and jazz.  For the past four summers she has studied with ballet schools in Boston, Chautauqua (New York) and Atlanta and she performs locally and regionally some 20 times a year. Furthermore she has studied classical piano for more than a decade and now performs in student recitals and volunteer events.

Alyssa Botelho

In addition to dance and piano, Alyssa excels academically at North Mecklenburg High School.  She is a member of the International Baccalaureate Program there and a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.  Her impressive resume includes service hours spent as a teen volunteer at the Levine Children’s Hospital Child Life Unit.  Dancing six days a week, 50 weeks a year, it is hard to imagine fitting in hours for study, service hours, or just “hanging out” with friends.  Somehow Alyssa gets it all done and is even considering pursuing the study of medicine in college.

Congratulations to you, Alyssa Botelho, on your many talents.  We wish you the best as you complete your “senior” year in “Nutcracker” and look forward to news of which college dorm room will hold your toe shoes next fall.

PHOEBE KLETT, CHRISTINA and KERRY DENNIS

You don’t have to be a high school senior to dance in “Nutcracker.”  More than 100 performers are in this production, many of them younger children. Meet three of our younger residents who are appearing with Alyssa Botelho in all 12 performances this month.

Phoebe Klett (at left) joins Kerry (center) and Christina Dennis on their way to a dress rehearsal in Charlotte for the Nutcracker ballet.

Christina and Kerry are the children of Joe and Laurie Dennis of McConnell.  Christina is a sixth grader at Bailey Middle School and is on stage as the littlest soldier in Act One and one of the Mother Ginger dancers in Act Two. A dedicated dancer with NCDT, Christina never tires of practice and just “hates it when The Nutcracker ends.”

Kerry, a fourth grader at Davidson Elementary, appears on stage as a party boy which means he gets to run around the stage causing trouble.  He also has the part of the “trumpet boy” marching into the middle of the fight scene.  (Sounds like perfect casting for a fella!)

Phoebe Klett is the daughter of Chris and Amy Klett and lives in the New Neighborhood.  She is also a fourth grader at Davidson Elementary, in the same class with Kerry.  Her roles in the Nutcracker include a little mouse who gets shot by a soldier but recovers quickly and continues to circle the stage.  In the second act she is a ribbon twirler in the Chinese dance.

Tomorrow is opening night at Blumenthal.  Performances are December 12-14 and 19-21.  Call 704.372.1000 for tickets or access www.ncdance.org.  What better way to relax for two hours and enjoy this timeless tale.

VISIT WITH A BIG RED TRUCK

Preschoolers enjoy a visit to the Davidson Fire Department.

This week a play group from the McConnell neighborhood area had a “toddler/preschool friendly” tour of the Davidson Fire Department.  Marion Peklo and her husband, Josh (a Davidson alum), arranged this special event since Josh is a Volunteer Fire Fighter when not at his “regular post” teaching in the Davidson College Theatre Department.  The children had a blast watching a demonstration of how a firefighter puts on his suit, seeing the ladder truck send up its ladder and climbing on the big red fire truck!  It is the thing dreams are made of for two-year-olds!

The parents of the play group showed their appreciation by sponsoring an Angel from the Davidson Police and Fire Department Angel Tree and presenting the gift to the Chief.  Thanks to the Peklos for organizing this special December treat and to Maggie Thwaites for alerting Around Davidson to this delightful news item.

WELCOME JUNIPER GRACE

The Davidson grapevine just recently made us aware that Bob Cumming is a grandpa!  A few phone calls later we got the “scoop” on Juniper Grace Cumming who was born last June 2.  She weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long.  Juniper is the first child for proud parents Gabriel Cumming and his wife, Carla Norwood.  Now a bouncing six month old, she is full of energy and keeping Mom and Dad busy as they complete their studies.

Juniper Grace Cumming on the lap of her proud papa, Gabriel Cumming.

Gabriel received his Ph.D. in Ecology from UNC-Chapel Hill in August 2007 and is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort.  Carla is working on her dissertation which is also in Ecology at UNC.  They are living by the beach in Atlantic Beach through March 2009 when they will return to their home in Durham.

Congratulations to all the family.  Grandpa Bob and his wife, Rosa Shand, just beam when asked about this beautiful granddaughter.  Even at six months, we bet Juniper has Grandpa wound right around her little finger!

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Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.