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Photos by Rachel Hellwig
Above: Elizabeth Gamble and Ariana Czernobil at Alabama Ballet’s studios.
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Photos by Rachel Hellwig
Elizabeth Gamble and Alexander Forck rehearsing Sugar Plum and Cavalier.
Courtesy of ArtsBHAM
One of the most beloved characters in the history of ballet, the Sugar Plum Fairy, will return to the stages of Samford’s Wright Center from Dec. 8-17 in the Alabama Ballet’s annual production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.”
In Balanchine’s version of the ballet, Sugar Plum first takes the stage at the beginning of Act II amidst an ensemble of students dancing the roles of angels.
Dressed in a pink tutu, she performs her famous solo, popularly known as “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
Later on in Act II, she returns in a pale green tutu to perform a regal and soaring dance with her Cavalier.
This year, six dancers from the company will be performing as Sugar Plum, including veteran Ariana Czernobil and newcomer to the role Elizabeth Gamble.
We recently sat with Czernobil and Gamble to learn a bit more about them.
Ariana Czernobil
Q: Where’s your hometown?
A: Chicago.
Q: How old were you when you started ballet?
A: I started movement classes when I was 3 years old and was terrible at everything except for ballet.
Q: What was your very first role in “The Nutcracker” as a student?
A: I was a Tree Angel in The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago’s “Nutcracker.”
Q: How many years have you been a member of Alabama Ballet?
A: This is my seventh season with Alabama Ballet.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about ballet?
A: I love the combination of athletics and artistry.
Q: How many years have you danced the role of Sugar Plum?
A: This will be my fifth year dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy with Alabama Ballet.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about dancing Sugar Plum this year?
A: My favorite part about dancing Sugar Plum Fairy is being on stage with the angels at the beginning of the second act. I remember being their age in my first “Nutcracker” and love being able to smile at them while dancing the hardest steps. I enjoy performing the most. It makes all the hard work and rehearsal worth it. I feel like I can be whoever I want to be onstage despite how I am feeling that day. I am looking forward to dancing the grand pas de deux because the music is really beautiful and it builds to such a great finish.
Q: If you’re not dancing, what do you enjoy doing?
A: When I’m not dancing, I’m probably playing with my dog.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday treat?
A: My favorite holiday (actually, anytime of the year) sweet is dark chocolate-covered pretzels.
Elizabeth Gamble
Q: Where’s your hometown?
A: Birmingham.
Q: How old were you when you started ballet?
A: 3 years old.
Q: What was your very first role in “The Nutcracker” as a student?
A: A Polichinelle (clown).
Q: How many years have you been a member of Alabama Ballet?
A: 10 seasons.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about ballet?
A: Performing.
Q: How many years have you danced the role of Sugar Plum?
A: This will be my first year performing as Sugar Plum.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about dancing Sugar Plum this year?
A: Possibly learning the role.
Q: If you’re not dancing, what do you enjoy doing?
A: Puzzles.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday treat?
A: Caramel-covered apples.
