4th grade sees musical

By Sam Waller

Fourth grade students from Nancy Smith Elementary School attended a special performance of “The Nutcracker” put on by Abilene Ballet Theatre on Friday, Nov. 18 at Abilene’s historic Paramount Theater.

Fourth grade teacher Melissa Fields said 40 students traveled to the event for the first time in two years.

“Last year, the performances were only open to families rather than school classes because of COVID,” Fields said.

And the pandemic completedly cancelled the performances for everyone in 2020.

“We normally go every year, and our kids always look forward to it,” said Fields.

The two-act ballet, scored by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and first performed in 1892, has become a staple for many North American ballet companies during the Christmas season.

This year’s Abilene Ballet Theatre cast included Albany’s Kalison Oliver, a fifth grader at NSES, who played Clara’s cousin, as well as a clown.

“That was really fun because her sister is part of our fourth grade class,” Fields said. “I thought it was neat that we had an Albany girl performing.”

The Abilene Ballet Theatre 36th annual production of “The Nucracker” closed Sunday, Nov. 20.