Holly Cook
For Jesse and Sam Warner, the Nutcracker always has been a family affair.
This year, 8-year-old Jesse will play a horn boy and 11-year-old Samantha will play a party boy and Polichinelles.
The Warner children have been in the Colorado Ballet’s production for eight years, along with big brother Chris and mom and dad’s help backstage.
This year is no different.
Since September, the Warner’s mom, Ann, has carted the dancing duo from school in Centennial to the Colorado Ballet studios at 13th and Logan Street in Denver.
Sometimes rehearsals last until 9 p.m.
At 4 p.m. the two are full of energy, stretching on the couch while they give up their favorite part about being a dancer.
From their abundant energy, you’d never know Sam and Jesse take ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and tap classes in between Nutcracker rehearsals.
“It’s just fun,” Jesse said. His casual demeanor and confidence make him seem much older than 8. According to him he’s “almost 9, anyway.”
When he’s not dancing, the Ames Elementary student plays soccer, and keeps up on his school work.
“When I tell my friends I dance they’ll tell me ‘you’re a girl,’” he said. “But it’s just fun for no particular reason.”
While it’s fun for her brother, Sam takes it a little more seriously.
“I want to compete,” she said. The T-shirt over her leotard and pink tights affirms her statement.
The word “Aspirations” is puff-painted in neon green across her back. It’s the name of her competitive dance team.
She also started taking pointe classes this year. Pointe distinguishes the mature ballet dancers of the group and takes a higher level of skill.
Sam says her toes haven’t been bloody yet, but she’s had some blisters.
She said she would eventually love to play the part of Clara in the Nutcracker, now that she’s on pointe.
Clara leads the whole production as a young girl who dreams her Nutcracker prince doll comes to life, taking her to a land of dancing snowflakes, Sugar Plum fairies, and acrobatic Russian dancers.
For Jesse, being a Russian dancer would be pretty great, but he’d rather play the Nutcracker Prince.
“A lot of my friends tell me I should play that part,” he said.
Maybe someday they’ll get their chance.
Whether it’s their favorite dance teacher jokingly picking on brother and sister, or it’s the fellow dancer who chats it up with mom in between classes, it’s obvious the family has talented roots in the company.
Sam and Jesse are among eight Centennial dancers to perform in the ballet. Rachel Lie, Silken Kelly, Madison Grimm, Meg MacDonald, Rachel (Corcoran) Parmer and Jordan Trigg also are in the cast.
The production runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 27. For more information visit, www.coloradoballet.org.