Dancers Share Plum Role in 'Nutcracker'

Trumpets will sound, gingerbread soldiers will battle the Mouse King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy will preside over a procession of sweets as The Peconic Youth Ballet and students of The Conservatory Ballet of Danse Arts present their annual production of "The Nutcracker."

The production, choreographed by Betteanne Terrell and Megan Cancellieri, will be held at this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

senior Sarah Talmage and senior Ciena Quinn will share the premier role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, partnered with Leonel Lionores, a professional dancer at Ajkun Ballet Theater in New York City.

Sarah began dancing at Danse Arts when she was 4 years old and has since danced every part in "The Nutcracker."

"I've done all the variations in the Land of Sweets," she said. "Party boy, party girl, soldier, angel, flower, snow..." According to Sarah, the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy is the most demanding. "It seems like it would be an easy dance and doesn't look as hard as it actually is."

"The role demands a lot of stamina," said Ciena, who has been dancing 11 years and has previously danced a half dozen or more roles in "The Nutcracker," including Clara, the girl at the center of the plot.

Ciena will dance the Grand Pas de Deux with Leonel Lionores. "It's great to dance with a professional," she said. "Not only is it amazing to have a good partner, it's also a plus to have a professional's point of view. He's taught me a lot and helped me out with the dance tremendously."

"This is my second time partnering," Sarah said. "It is different dancing when you are relying on someone else to help you get through the dance."

"My wife came home last night and said it would bring tears to your eyes to watch them dance," said Sarah's father, John Talmage. He fondly reminisces about Sarah's "Nutcracker" roles, especially one in which she danced the role of Clara and her twin brother, James, playing Clara's mischievous brother, Fritz.

Danse Arts owner Megan Cancellieri is a 2002 graduate of Southampton High School who has lived in the Hamptons her entire life and began dancing when she was 2 years old.

"Before I bought the studio, I was a student and then a teacher [here]," she said. "I studied privately with a former professional dancer who is now a teacher at my studio, Betteanne Terrell, as well as studying dance at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet."

Cancellieri danced her first "Nutcracker" role in 1988 in the auditorium at Southampton High School.

"I loved all my memories from shows there and felt that my students should have the same experience," she said.

This year, 50 Danse Arts students ranging in age from 4 years old to adult will perform. Cancellieri, who danced the children's roles until she was 11 before moving up to the solo roles, had danced the role of Sugar Plum Fairy for the past five years.

"This year," she said, "I will dance the role of mother, Mouse King, and the Arabian."

Cancellieri called Sarah and Ciena "professional level students," and said, "They have worked especially hard and will be fabulous this year."

Part of the proceeds from this year's performance will go to The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

"I have had two family members pass away from cancer, three close friends survive, and one friend who is still fighting," Cancellieri said. "To be able to put together 'The Nutcracker' with helping something that has affected so many close to me was important."

The Nutcracker performances will be held Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Dancers will be available after each performance for onstage photographs with audience members. On Sunday at 1 p.m., dancers will welcome Santa as he greets children and opens the performance.

Tickets are available for purchase by calling 631-537-1684 and online at www.dansearts.com. Tickets are $15 for adults (18 and over), $10 for children (4-18) and seniors (60+), and toddlers (3 and under) are free.