The Civic Ballet of Volusia County congratulates each of their Seniors performing in their final Nutcracker Dec 5th & 6th at the Peabody Auditorium. Tickets to the 2020 Nutcracker performances, Sugarplum Tea, and VIP Experience are on sale now. Event Details Click Here
The Volusia Mom had a chance to interview these talented senior performers and our special spotlight the beautiful Clara (Joy Perry)! Their grace is to be admired and yes I am taking some great notes for my four year old budding ballerina!
Grace Adams-Snowflake, Arabian, Spanish Lead
Grace is an AP, dual enrollment, and honors student at Atlantic High School. She has been dancing since she was three years old. Prior to moving to Florida, Grace attended Project Ballet Conservatory and competed with Dancer’s Edge Company in Indiana. In 2017, her team dances earned first, third, fourth, and fifth places at NYCDA’s National Championship, and her trio took twelfth. She has attended Summer Intensives with both Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Ballet Met. Last year, Grace was accepted into the Ailey Studio’s Summer Intensive in New York City. She currently trains with South Beach Dance and is looking forward to her final competition season. Grace hopes to continue her dance career in college, and she was recently accepted into Point Park University.
How long have you been dancing? 14 Years
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker? This will be my fifth time in The Nutcracker
What parts have you performed over the years? Party Girl, Claras Friend, Solider Doll, Snow, Angel, Marzipan, Chinease, Spanish,
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet? My favorite Scene would be Battle Scene
What are your plans after graduation? My plans are to go to college for dance and art. Right now I’m mostly looking into Point Park University which I have been accepted into.
What will you miss the most? I will miss competing the most
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning? There are gonna be times when you want to quit but keep going because In the end it’s all worth it
Tanner Noronha-Weeks- Apprentice/Nutcracker, Prince
Tanner is an IB Student, plays bass and taps with the school Jazz Band, has attended USF’s Biomedical Engineering Summer Program, is a member of NHS and multiple HS clubs, is a Tomorrow’s Leaders graduate, has many awards in dance, and is the 2020 – 2021 Mr. Spruce Creek. He has participated in study abroad programs with French and German families and has performed with the Jazz Band in Europe. His travels to Australia, Canada, Europe, Ecuador, and within the United States have contributed to his global view. Church, his diverse and dedicated family, and supportive Employer (Outback Steakhouse – Ormond) have grounded him and contributed to his drive, core values, work ethic, and success. Tanner thanks his village of support for his personal growth, including LFA, Tomoka Elementary, Hinson, Spruce Creek, FUMC Ormond & Salty Church, SBD, & VCB. Tanner is blessed with his amazing family, true close friends, and great teachers as his steadfast anchors. Tanner will pursue Engineering, Economics, Music, and the Performing Arts; this is Tanner’s sixth Nutcracker.
How long have you been dancing? Almost 11 years
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker? 6, non-consecutive years
What parts have you performed over the years? Fritz, Nutcracker, Prince (in 2020 too), Russian, Apprentice
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet? Grande Pas or Waltz of the Flowers
What are your plans after graduation? To attend a t20 school to pursue engineering and continue growing with tap dance and Jazz music.
What will you miss the most? From dance: Mr. Danny, From home: my momma’s cooking
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning? Don’t ever let someone tell you what you cannot do, prove them wrong, time and time again
Anything else you would like to add? I’d like to thank my mother, family, school, studio, and community for pushing me to become the dancer and person which I am today.
Kylie-Ann
Kylie-Ann has been dancing since she was 3 years old, first as a competitive Irish step dancer where she went to compete at Mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas and came in 25th out of 300 dancers. Kylie loves to dance.
When she moved from New York to Florida and could not find competitive Irish dance, she decided to try a ballet class and fell in love with it. Kylie danced for Kemper Dance for 5 years and is now dancing with High Standard Dance Company.
She is sad to be finishing her last year of competitive dance; however, she is excited for what the future will hold for her. Kylie is going to Daytona State and wants to be a surgical nurse. Her mother, father, and all six of her siblings are extremely proud of how far she has come in dance and can’t
wait to see her on stage for her final year.
How long have you been dancing? 13 years
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker? This is my first time
What parts have you performed over the years? Dragon and Party
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet? The Arabian
What are your plans after graduation? I am going to Daytona State and I want to be a psychologist
What will you miss the most? The adrenaline I get from competing and the bond I have with my teammates
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning? Don’t hold yourself back just because you feel like you cannot do something because you can do anything
Elizabeth Connor-Snow Queen, Marzipan, Flowers
Elizabeth is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at Spruce Creek High School where she spends her time doing community work through the National Honor Society and Student Government Association. Elizabeth has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She joined South Beach Dance nine years ago and also competes on their competition team. This is Elizabeth’s third year with the Nutcracker. She has had wonderful memories with her friends she has made through CBVC. After graduation, she plans on studying neurology and to continue dancing through her college years.
How long have you been dancing? 15 years
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker? 3 years
What parts have you performed over the years?
Snow Queen, Marzipan, Flowers, Arabian
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet? Snow scene because of all the chaos it entails and the watching the snow fall while you dance
What are your plans after graduation? To major in chemistry in college and dance while getting my degree
What will you miss the most? The people I’ve grown up with and my teachers. Also, the late night rehearsals and traditions we all take part in.
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning? Stretch as much as possible. You’ll thank yourself when you’re older because it’s much harder to gain flexibility when you’re old.
Anything else you would like to add? I’m incredible thankful to Civic Ballet and South Beach for all of the wonderful opportunities they’ve given me.
While not a senior, we wanted to send a special shout out to the gorgeous Joy Perry who will be playing Clara!
Joy Perry-Clara
Joy, an 8th-grade homeschooler, dances at FREED and South Beach. She is on South Beach’s competition team. In her free time, she sings and goes to church. This is her 8th Nutcracker.
How long have you been dancing? Since I was 4 (9 years dancing)
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker? 8 years
What parts have you performed over the years?
Baby Mouse, Bon Bon, Party Girl Chinese, Cherub, Demi Angel and this year staring as Clara.
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet? Pas, Clara and the Prince dance
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning? If it is something you want to do it keeps commitment even though its hard, you need to learn the basics before its fun. Have a positive attitude and have fun with it takes a lot of dedication
The traditions we do, getting to see each other every Sunday…really great teachers, they are friendly and sweet…it is a big family experience.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I hope to grow up to be a principal dancer or a professional dancer. Houston Texas Ballet Conservatory or New York and study.
