All Around Ashburn: An Ashburn Tradition on Stage

The Creative Dance Center performed its annual Nutcracker show this past weekend. It's the 11th year for the show, which has evolved over the years. The "jazzed up" version put on "by children for children" was a spunky and shortened version of the Nutcracker, and yet there was enough of the original storyline and music to satisfy most traditionalists. This was the first year I've ever seen it and I hope the Dance Center offers more showings of the dance next year.

As I watched the carefully designed mix of music genres and well-executed dance moves, it occurred to me how art does reflect life and how very like Ashburn's character of old and new the show was. There was the traditional scenery and beautiful costumes of the Nutcracker and many of the traditional ballet scenes. But the substitution of some of the music and dance with more updated and lively pieces worked wonderfully in the production and added to the family experience. I spoke to Kelly, who has come with her boys for the last three years. The boys were very excited to come see "the dancing girls" (sorry Nutcracker) again this year and five-year-old Gavin said he especially enjoyed "the fire" when Drosselmeyer used fireworks on stage. That, and of course the sword fight.

The dancers work hard on the production and it shows. The dancers have tryouts in June, a camp over the summer, and then spend every Saturday afternoon starting in September preparing. From the darling small dancers who are dancing in their first Nutcracker to the older, more technically advanced children, the spectacle was thoroughly enjoyable.

If you missed the show this year, you'll want to make it a part of your family's tradition next year.