Nutcracker On Ice

By Olivia Rosemann, age 15, Webster Groves High School

Lights shining down on you, stands full of cheering people, and sets that transform the ice rink to a stage.  Skating at Nutcracker when your seven years old is magical, it makes you feel special, like you are a celebrity.  Now eight years later, even though I’m wearing a different costume, I am a principal instead of in a group, and the kids I babysit are coming to see me instead of my own babysitter, my feelings haven’t changed. Putting on my costume still makes me grin like a little kid. Looking up at the stands before I skate and seeing little kids smile and wave still fills me with warmth. Finally performing the number you have worked on for months in front of (however many people see nutcracker) and having them like it still amazes me. Nutcracker is in a few days and I can’t wait for my friends, family and community to see the wonderful show that we have put together this year.

Tickets are still available for the 5 p.m. performances of Nutcracker on Ice on Saturday, December 8th and Sunday, December 9th.  All shows are being held at the Webster Groves Ice Arena located at 33 E. Glendale Road (corner of Elm and Highway 44). This abridged one-hour version of the Nutcracker is a magical experience the whole family will enjoy!  This, adapted to ice, show is packed with skating set to the traditional Nutcracker music with magical sets as the backdrop. Principal skaters are competitive skaters from the area who will spin and jump their way through this holiday classic, the show also features skaters of all ages as adorable sweets, mice, fairies and more!

The show will feature special appearance by national and world competitor, Barbie Long and World Champion Igor Lisovski.  Barbie recently qualified to compete at the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships by taking the Gold at the 2013 Midwestern Sectional Championships in Jr. Ladies. This will be Barbie’s third straight appearance at U.S. Nationals; in 2010 she was the U.S. Intermediate Bronze Medalist, in 2011 Barbie won the U.S. Novice Silver Medal and in 2012, she was the US National Junior pewter medalist. Special Celebrity Guest Figure Skater World Champion Igor Lisovski will appear in the part of Drosselmeir.  Igor is the 1981 World and European Pairs Champion.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make this a family tradition like I have!

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, children 4 and under are FREE.  Tickets may be purchased at the following locations:  Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream, 8130 Big Bend Blvd.; Auto Evaluators, Inc., 7721 Watson Road; Webster Groves Recreational Complex, 33 E. Glendale; Head to Toe Dancewear, 200 W. Argonne and on-line at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/280752