Friday, November 30, 2007

Nutcracker: All Jazz'd Up!


As most of you know, my portrait studio is located in a busy dance studio in western Shawnee called the Academy of the Arts. Besides my private portraits that you see featured on this blog, I also take recital and cast portraits for the dance studio. My little girl has danced there since she was 3 years old - and she's 9 now! We love the Academy of the Arts! A very special production is about to be staged - their third annual "Nutcracker: All Jazz'd Up!"

We took my daughter to the first year they did the show - she was not in it, but as soon as she saw it she fell in love. It's very fun, and very different than the classical version of the Nutcracker story -- modern and made for a young cast. It features several types of dance - ballet of course, but also jazz and tap. My husband and I love the tapping mice - we think they always steal the show.

I encourage you to take your kids to see this show! You have three chances to see it - Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and again on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. It will be performed at Mill Valley High School, between Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive on Monticello. Tickets can be bought at the door for $10 each.

I will be there as a photographer taking action pictures, and my husband is doing the performance video. But I'll also be there as a mom - my daughter has 4 parts in the show - it's always a wonderful feeling to see her on stage - I can't wait!

I hope to see you there!
And I can't resist posting a portrait of my own daughter -hamming it up as usual in her Russian Laughter costume!