This week was full of excitement for William Dougherty. Not only did he celebrate his 11th birthday on Halloween, but for a fourth year he rehearsed dance steps for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker production.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Kent boy is one of 222 students who will participate in PNB’s Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell and world-famous illustrator Maurice Sendak’s production.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
William, a fifth-grader at Glenridge Elementary School, has been dancing since he was about 7, involved in creative movement.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I think it’s really fun,” he said. “You get to see a lot of things backstage and upstairs. It’s a lot of fun.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He will play a toy theater boy in this year’s performance. Although he’ll only be on stage for about five minutes, his father Alan calls his steps challenging.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I’m really excited for his dancing ability,” said Alan Dougherty.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Alan has watched his son progress up to level three dancing, with more challenging moves with each performance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Twice his son has performed one of the party boy roles and once as the little boy who runs around and gets conked on the head by a little girl.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This week William and 15 other theater boys and 16 girls rehearsed in the largest PNB dance studio, learning how to use props for their scene.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
His favorite thing to do is put on the stage make-up that brings out his eyes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“It’s kind of hard because you have to sacrifice going to birthday parties for friends and that sort of thing,” William said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
He has been excited after each rehearsal. Practice began the week of Oct. 22 for students.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“He’s really excited about it. He’s been bouncing around the steps at home and doing his steps on the sidewalk regardless of who might be around,” said his father.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As a student in PNB’s Ballet School, William had to audition for his part in the Nutcracker. The Student Division begins at age 8 with auditions and consists of Levels I to VII. Classes are graded by age, physical strength, development and are promoted by individual progress.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
To audition for the Nutcracker, candidates must be in PNB’s school. This year several hundred from the school auditioned for parts in the performances, which run Dec. 7 through Dec. 29.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The annual production is a local favorite and attracts many patrons.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“What amazes me is that he can perform in front of thousands of people,” said Alan Dougherty.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
William told his dad recently that the only time he got butterflies was when he performed in the company’s version of Cinderella.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“On the first show (of the Nutcracker) I’m always quite nervous because of all the counting,” William said. “The rest of the shows are pretty much fine. No butterflies or anything.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n