Young Mt. Morris ballerina gets lead in ‘The Nutcracker’
MT. MORRIS – When Ayslinn Metzger was 3, her mother, Kelly, wanted her to take dance classes to introduce her to children her age.
“Ayslinn never went to day care and had socialization anxiety issues,” Kelly said. “She cried when I took her to class and had separation anxiety. Eventually it dissipated. Before, I couldn’t get her to go to class, now I can’t get her out of it.”
The 4-foot, 8-inch dancer from Mt. Morris weighs in at 80 pounds. Still small of stature, Ayslinn, who will turn 12 on Oct. 27, is facing one of the biggest challenges of her still young life. Over the Veteran’s Day weekend, she’ll tackle the lead role in the upcoming Morgantown Dance Studio (MDS) production of “The Nutcracker” at the Metropolitan Theater in Morgantown.
Now in her third year with MDS, Ayslinn danced in the jazz version of “The Nutcracker” last November, playing the roles of the lead Russian in the ensemble and the hip-hop baker. This time around she’ll take a big leap with the role of Clara in the popular Christmas season ballet.
“It sure feels good to play Clara,” Ayslinn said. “It’s every girl’s dream, and I worked hard to get the role.”
To get the lead, she had to audition, like several other young ballerinas, by performing snippets from the ballet. The judges liked her and one other girl and called them both back for a second audition. Eventually Ayslinn got the lead.
“Ayslinn was chosen because of her supreme stage presence,” said Desiree Witt, who will direct the production. “She’s a hard working little girl who gives her all and truly shines. She’s always smiling and when you give her a correction she says ‘Oh well, I’ll have to work harder.’ She’s a real joy to work with and is constantly trying to be her best. Ayslinn is one of the most pleasant young ladies I have ever met.”
Rehearsals for “The Nutcracker” started on Sept. 8, and Ayslinn has been putting in 8 to 10 hours a week since with six more weeks to go before opening night on Nov. 10.
“Learning the choreography is difficult, but I’m used to it,” she said. “I just listen to the music and it comes to me. I just know it (the production) is going to be good, but there’s a lot of pressure on me as the lead.”
Ayslinn said she finds the divertissement in the dream sequence when she partners with the Cavalier the most technically challenging part of the ballet. In it, she will partner with former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre principal dancer and soloist, Nurlon Abougaliev, with whom she once took a class at MDS.
Another difficult segment is when she dances with the Nutcracker and takes a big leap as he lifts her high off the ground.
Ayslinn considers herself fortunate to have already seen three productions of “The Nutcracker” in Pittsburgh and is planning on going back again this year. So far, her favorite part of the ballet is The Sugar Plum Fairy’s pas de deux.
While Ayslinn puts in 20 hours of dance each week, including three hours at Mindy’s School of Dance in Westover, where she first started dancing at the age of three, she manages to keep up with her school homework. This she usually does in period 9 at the Margaret Bell Miller Middle School in Waynesburg, where she is in the sixth grade.
“Ayslinn’s always been an A student, and taking ballet has taught her how to manage her time,” Kelly said. “The rule of the house is if she doesn’t bring home As and Bs, there’s no more dance, although I’ve never had to enforce that rule.”
In the past, Kelly has had a chance to dance with her daughter in previous productions. For instance, she has played the wicked stepmother in a production of “Cinderella” that was staged this past spring, and she will be included in the party scene in the upcoming “Nutcracker.”
“I was a high school cheerleader and have dabbled in dance, but never on the level of Ayslinn,” she said.
During her freshman year, Ayslinn hopes to attend one of five performance-based high schools she has chosen to further her dance and ballet studies. As her first, she is considering the School of American Ballet in New York City because she said she loves the Big Apple and it would give her a chance to get into the New York City Ballet.
After high school, she said she wants to become a professional ballerina and go to college and hopes to do both at the same time.
“I like being onstage because it gives me a good feeling to make people happy,” she said.
Ayslinn Metzger will star in the Morgantown Dance Studio production of “The Nutcracker” at the historic Metropolitan Theater on High Street in Morgantown at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, at a time to be announced on Saturday, Nov. 11 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Tickets are $20 or $15 for seniors and students, $10 for children 6 to 10 and $5 for those 5 and under. More information and tickets will be available by calling 304-292-3266 or by going online at www.morgantowndance.org on Monday, Oct. 9.