Uniontown native to dance lead in MoTown production of ‘The Nutcracker’
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On the car ride home after trying out for The Nutcracker, Uniontown native Isabella Sparks told her mother she just hoped she got a part in the ballet, no matter how small it was.
Toward the end of try-outs for the Morgantown Dance Studio production, 10-year-old Isabella was placed in a corner by herself while the other 8-10 year-olds had been placed into groups.
She had no idea that she was alone because she had been chosen for the part of Clara, the main character of the ballet.
It wasn’t until her mother, Chon Sparks, received a text from a friend stating, “You must be so proud,” that they found out she had gotten the starring role.
Chon said she had to see it for herself, so she checked her e-mail to see the cast list. When Isabella asked what role she got, Chon responded by calling her Clara.
”I was thrilled and shocked at the same time,” Chon said. “This is a major accomplishment. She was so excited she didn’t know which way to turn.”
Isabella had assumed that the part of Clara would be given to an older girl because hasn’t yet learned to dance en pointe, which means on the tip of the toes.
”I was so happy, so excited,” Isabella said. “I wanted to scream out loud, but I couldn’t because my dad was sleeping.”
While Isabella has only been dancing at the studio for a short time, her instructors see a lot of promise in her.
”Since joining Morgantown Dance Studio as a member of the Morgantown Youth Ballet Company, Isabella has made tremendous progress, and it is her strength as a dancer and her expressiveness that led us to cast her as Clara in this year’s production,” said Jenny Lawrence, artistic director of the Morgantown Ballet Companies.
Isabella danced at the Fayette School of Ballet in Uniontown before coming to the Morgantown Dance Studio in December 2009. She changed studios after her mom began a new job in West Virginia.
Chon told a co-worker that they were looking to find a place that offered classical ballet training. That co-worker happened to be a dance instructor at Morgantown Dance and suggested the studio to the Sparks family.
Isabella loves Morgantown Dance Studio because “all the teachers help everybody, everybody’s always nice,” she said.
Her mother is also impressed with the people who make up the dance studio.
”The school is so friendly and supportive,” Chon said. “The older girls take the younger girls under their wing.”
Morgantown Dance is not a competitive dance company, and Chon said because of this the instructors really nurture their dancers.
To prepare for her role, Isabella took a beginners partnering class, because this role will be her first time dancing with a partner. There are several lifts choreographed into her part.
After her first partnering class, Isabella told her mother, “It was hard for me, a little uncomfortable, but if I’m going to be a ballerina, that’s my job.”
She said she’s a little scared about the lifts, but she’s also excited about her first time partnering on stage.
And likely, it won’t be her last time.
”When I grow up, I think I will be a professional dancer,” she said.
The Nutcracker will take place Nov. 19 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 20 at 2:30 p.m. Visit www.morgantownmet.com to purchase tickets, which cost $18 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Dance.