Meet Our Ottawa Crew!

Today we had two more performances at The National Arts Center!

It is really astounding how many people are a part of making a Nutcracker performance happen.

One of the most important departments is wardrobe. Headed by Wendy and Marie, the wardrobe department creates, fits, mends, adjusts and alters all of the costumes the dancers wear. Their work is tireless and never ending.

Wendy Levin working in the wardrobe room in Ottawa.

In conjunction with the wardrobe department, we also have 'dressers'. These are the individuals that make our quick changes happen, as well as any other costume changes.

Two of the dressers in Ottawa help Megan Dickinson get ready 

for Colombine.

As you can imagine, pointe shoes are another pertinent aspect to any performance. Jon Martin is the individual who organizes, paints, and orders all of the dancers shoes, and not even just pointe shoes, but also character shoes, jazz shoes, and sometimes even tap shoes! 

Jon Martin with the dancers' shoe boxes. 

 Finally, Pennsylvania Ballet's crew is a huge facet to performances. They are the people behind the scenes that make the magic happen! They prepare all of the props and sets before each act, and sometimes even build them. They are also responsible for pulling the curtain, for lighting the show, mopping the stage, making it snow in the snow scene, and any other 'catch-all' duties you can think of. The guys in the Pennsylvania Ballet crew are really jacks of all trades, and it is safe to say that the show wouldn't go on without them!

Pennsylvania Ballet's Stage Manager Tony Costandino 

giving cues to the crew in Act One.

Daniel Amadie and the NAC's lead electrician.

We only have four more shows left in Ottawa! The time is really flying by! We are all pretty tired, but this awesome experience makes it all worthwhile! More tomorrow!

-Holly