THE GLEANER HOLIDAY FEATURES 4 DECEMBER 18, 2020 Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker: COVID-19 style by Ava Hoelscher The dancers have of The Gleaner certainly felt the effects of COVID this Nutcracker The Dubuque City season. Noah Ripperger, Youth Ballet’s production ‘23, dancing the role of of The Nutcracker is an the Nutcracker, said, “The annual holiday tradition quality of the show will be for dancers and their fans. different; that’s not because Christmas would not of the dancers’ talents. It’s feel the same without the simply because we are in whimsical storytelling, a pandemic and have had beautiful dancing, colorful a hard time working with costumes, and familiar restrictions.” melodies. Though the company This year, the high typically has a strict one- miss policy for rehearsals, number of COVID cases in Falling into the 2020 Nutcracker the Dubuque community that has been altered this created fear that the ballet The Nutcracker cast of 2019 performing their last snow dance routine during last year’s holi- year to allow for proper would be cancelled. day season. quarantines. Often mul- However, the company’s “I’m looking forward to has sold out. Berning noted ences and are grateful that tiple dancers are missing directors were committed showing everyone what we that though it will feel the tradition continues this from each rehearsal, which to giving their dancers a have worked so hard on,” different to perform for a year. Senior Emilia Harris has made it difficult for the performance opportunity. said Berning. “I’m also glad much smaller audience, she said that watching dancers company to properly space They implemented pre- we can provide many peo- feels lucky that they are perform The Nutcracker as and rehearse group scenes. cautions to keep dancers ple with a Christmas tra- still able to perform at all. a child prompted her to However, the company safe, such as requiring face dition they thought might For audience safety, masks begin ballet. has kept high spirits and masks when rehearsing, not happen this year.” will be required at all Harris explained, “I believes the show can come social distancing during To ensure audience mem- times and the ballet will would watch the perfor- together nicely. classes and in choreogra- bers’ safety, only 200 of the be abbreviated, with no mances and think, this is Cast One performances phy, and double casting the Grand Opera House’s 650- intermission. Live stream- what I want to do. Seeing are Dec. 10, 11, 12 and 13; ballet to limit cast sizes. plus seats will be available ing from the Grand Opera all the dancers on stage Cast Two performances Through it all - the for each performance this House is also an option made me dream of being are Dec. 17, 18, 19 and 20. show goes on! Tessa Bern- year, and attendees will be for those who prefer not to up there performing, too.” Members of the DCYB will ing, ‘22, Clara in this year’s arranged in small socially attend in person. She began ballet at age 6, appreciate your support production, is thankful to distanced groups. Many members of the and this year is performing during this altered Nut- still have the opportunity In years past, a typical DCYB have fond memories her dream role of the Sugar cracker season. to dance on stage. Nutcracker performance of their Nutcracker experi- Plum Fairy. Spotify Christmas playlist New Year calls for new resolutions Lola Grap by Claire Walker followed through on a “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix of The Gleaner New Year’s Resolution, Sophie Skemp but she hopes the year of “All I Want for Christmas is You” To say the least, 2020 2021 brings about different by Mariah Carey has been a whirlwind results. Tatum mentioned William Herbst of events; no one really she could reach this goal “Frosty the Snowman” by Jimmy Durante expected it to go the way by substituting popsicles Ava Hoelscher it has. On Dec. 31st of 2019, for ice cream. “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande people celebrated, taking Freshman Kevin Brad- Zoey May on the new year in hopes of ley had a similar answer “Emmanuel” by Hillsong Worship a second “Roaring 20s.” to Tatum’s, saying, “I want Jamie Vondra It has certainly been roar- to stop drinking pop, and I want to eat less sugar.” “Up on the Housetop” by Pentatonix ing. As usual, people set Claire Walker goals to make this year one Kevin wants to do this for to remember. However, a healthier lifestyle, spe- “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber Painting the New Year cifically inspired by the Carter Rambousek many of those goals were Ellie Kirby, ‘22, practices the flushed down the drain. As athletes he watches. He can “What Christmas Means to Me” art of water color painting. 2021 comes closer, peo- use their achievements as by John Legend ple hope to set their New getting her for Christmas, motivation to improve his Maxwell Wessels Year’s Resolutions again along with lots of prac- own eating habits in order “Jingle Bells” by Pentatonix this year. tice. Ellie added that she to reach his goals as an Julieanna Baerga Many students and has never fully followed athlete. “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber teachers are ready to take through on a New Year’s Mr. Tim Ehrmann, Hugh Doyle on the new year with their Resolution, but hopes this one of Wahlert’s beloved “Happy Xmas” by John Lennon resolutions, no matter how year will be different, since teachers, has a New Year’s Caroline Hutchinson big, unique, or small they she is especially excited to Resolution of working out “Last Christmas” by Wham! may be. Ellie Kirby, ‘22, reach her goal. five times a week instead of Michael Spahn for example, has made a Tatum Manternach, three. “Jingle Bells” by Bing Crosby resolution to improve her ‘23, also has a New Year’s He said, “I plan to Lilah Takes watercolor painting. Resolution, but she is not wake up early on the days “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” Kirby said, “I have been too excited for hers; she is I don’t normally workout by Michael Buble doing many painting class- giving up ice cream. because sometimes it’s easi- Sophie Wagner es at Wahlert, and watercol- “Track season is com- er to just get up and do it.” “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano or is my favorite medium, ing up, and I want to be This idea of getting up Brant Perry so I think it would be cool in good shape for that, so and going can be applied to “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms to get really good at it.” I’ll eat less ice cream,” said all New Year’s Resolutions. Ms. Gaul Kirby is aided in Tatum. Instead of putting things Just like Ellie, Tatum off and “starting tomor- “Winter Wonderland” by Michael Buble reaching this goal with the watercolor set her sister is can’t say she has ever row,” why not start today?