Volusia Civic Ballet congratulates each of their Seniors performing in their final Nutcracker Dec 2nd & 3rd at the Peabody Auditorium. Tickets to the 2023 Nutcracker performances and Sugarplum Tea are on sale now. Event Details Click Here
The Volusia Mom had a chance to interview these talented senior performers! Their grace is to be admired and yes I am taking some great notes for my seven year old budding performer!
Samantha Jolley
Snow, Spanish Lead, Flowers
Samantha is a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School. She is an honors student in the AICE/Cambridge program, the treasurer of the Senior Class, a four-year member of the Student Government Association, a member of the National Honor Society, and an active member of her church. Samantha dances at South Beach Dance. This is her fourth and final year dancing in the Nutcracker with the Volusia Civic Ballet. Samantha is so thankful for her dance teachers who encourage and push her every day. After graduation, she plans to attend a four-year university with a minor in dance. Most of all, she would like to thank her Volusia Civic Ballet family who have inspired her ever since she attended her first Nutcracker performance with her grandmother when she was four years old.
How long have you been dancing?
I have been dancing since I was 7 years old and have been dancing for 10 years.
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker?
This is my fourth Nutcracker performance, my first Nutcracker was in 2016 when I was 11.
What parts have you performed over the years?
In 2016, I was a Warrior Mouse and Candy Cane. The following year in 2017, I was a Warrior Mouse, Angel, and Chinese Dragon. Last year in 2022, I was cast as the Mouse Queen and this year I am in Snow, Flowers and Spanish Lead.
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet?
My favorite scene in the Nutcracker was a newly introduced scene in 2022, Mouse Queen’s Ascension, also known as the trial. This was the year I performed as Mouse Queen.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduating high school, I plan on attending a four-year university with the hopes of continuing dance throughout college.
What will you miss the most?
The thing I will miss most is dancing with my Volusia Civic Ballet family. The relationships I have made with the dancers and choreographers have made a remarkable impact on the dancer I am today.
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning?
There are so many opportunities in dance so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! I would not be where I am today if I did not take the opportunities given to me.
As dancers, we face many challenges, but always remember one thing: we do this because we LOVE it!
Genevieve Dady
Snow, Marzipan, Flowers, Arabian
Genevieve is 17 years old and is a senior at University High School. She dances at High Standard Dance Company. She has been dancing for six years as a competitive dancer. Thanks to her sister, she began dancing, and she has been doing it ever since. She has performed in the Nutcracker for five years and has loved the opportunity to be a part of this production. Her parts this year of Marzipan, Snow, Flowers, and Arabian are ones that she has wanted to be in since she started Nutcracker. Genevieve is planning to go to college to become a forensic scientist. She hopes to attend UCF to achieve this goal after high school graduation. She hopes to continue dancing in college, as dance is a big part of her life. She has always had a passion for it and has always loved it, even after trying multiple different sports.
How long have you been dancing?
7 years
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker?
5 years
What parts have you performed over the years?
Party scene, dragon, Spanish, Arabian, marzipan, flowers, snow, Russian, mayors daughter.
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet? Marzipan
What are your plans after graduation?
College, I want to be a forensic scientist
What will you miss the most?
The people I dance with
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning?
Do not let yourself get discouraged because other people are doing things you can’t do yet, just because you aren’t doing it now, doesn’t mean you won’t do it in your own time, you just have to work for it and believe in your self.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you to everyone who has gotten me this far, I am so glad I have gotten these experiences, and I have loved every second of it, and no matter what I end up doing I will always remember all of them.
Peyton Domayer
Snow, Marzipan, Flowers, Arabian
Peyton Domayer is a senior at Seabreeze High School and dances at CMTW Dance. She has been dancing for eight years in many styles including pointe and tap. After high school, Peyton plans to attend college in Florida. She has an interest in marine biology. When she is not dancing, Peyton enjoys cooking, being creative, and spending time with her pets. Peyton is very involved in her school, including participating in Special Olympics, the culinary academy, 3D art, AICE, and student government. This is Peyton’s second Nutcracker. Over the last two years, she has created many new friendships and has gotten to participate in many different roles. Peyton is very excited for what is to come in the future.
How long have you been dancing?
I have been dancing for 8 years.
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker?
I have been performing in the Nutcracker for 2 years.
What parts have you performed over the years?
Throughout my time performing in the Nutcracker, I have played the roles of Party Girl, Dew Drop Attendant, Snow, Marzipan, Arabian, and Flowers.
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet?
My favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet is the snow falling during snow.
What are your plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation are to go to college and study marketing and advertising.
What will you miss the most?
What I will miss the most is the family atmosphere that dance creates.
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning?
The advice I would give to a dancer who is just beginning is to not compare yourself to others and continue to push yourself.
Anything else you would like to add?
Don’t be afraid to try new things. I was always afraid to audition for the Nutcracker until last year and wish I had done it for many years before. It is such an amazing experience!
Stillman Mahoney
Apprentice, Nutcracker, Prince
Stillman is an honor roll student and a senior at Spruce Creek High School. He dances at South Beach Dance where he has been dancing for 14 years. He does many styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical, and hip-hop. He was awarded first place at Starbound Nationals this summer and is now an assistant for Ignite Dance Live. He plans to pursue a dancing career after graduating high school. He looks forward to his last year at South Beach and dancing on their competition team. He can’t wait for what the future holds for him. He is grateful for the opportunity to work in a professional environment, and he is thankful for the people who have gotten him where he is today. This is his second Nutcracker performance in addition to multiple years of working backstage for the production.
How long have you been dancing?
I have been dancing for 15 years now.
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker?
This would be my 2nd year performing in the Nutcracker.
What parts have you performed over the years?
I have performed Fritz, Apprentice and Prince.
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet?
My favorite scene in the Nutcracker would have to be Waltz of the Flowers.
What are your plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation would be to pursue a career in dance.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my studio the most after I am graduated and all the good times we had.
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning?
I would tell them that it’s going to be hard and there are going to be a lot of times you want to give up but don’t let that take you down.
Anything else you would like to add?
I would like to add that dance is just an amazing way to let your mind off all the things you are always thinking about and I am so glad to have everything I have gotten over the years.
Jessica Motzer
Snow Queen
Jessica is a senior and an honor roll student at DeLand High School. She is on the DeLand High School Avant Garde Dance Team. She started dance classes at six years old. She started doing versions of the Nutcracker at age five. Jessica has also been teaching/choreographing at Volusia Academy of Dance & Gymnastics for two-plus years. Jessica plans to attend UCF to become a physical therapist and hopes to make the UCF dance team. Jessica is excited to share this stage one last time with the friends she has made.
How long have you been dancing?
I have been dancing for around 11 years now.
How long have you been performing in the Nutcracker?
In VCB nutcracker this is my third year but I have been participating in a Nutcracker since I was 6.
What parts have you performed over the years?
marzipan, snow, flowers, sugar plum fairy, and snow queen.
What is your favorite scene of the Nutcracker ballet?
Would have to be the snow scene because of all of the fun snow and stories.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to go down the physical therapy or sports medicine path. I want to continue to teach dance
What will you miss the most?
The family and friends that I have built over the past 3 years with this production.
What advice would you give to a dancer who is just beginning?
Don’t ever let anything destroy your light and joy for this art.
Anything else you would like to add?
This program has helped me build some amazing relationships with dancers and choreographers. They have become like a family. I will continue to come and watch nutcracker to see the amazing family grow!
Details for the show can be found by clicking here. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Peabody box office during the week and prior to the shows on Saturday and Sunday. The Tea tickets are sold as an add-on when purchasing the show tickets.
