We asked a few of our company dancers about their plans for a well-deserved break after The Nutcracker and before returning for company rehearsals for American Midwest Ballet’s upcoming Alice In Wonderland, and The Magic Flute and Bluebeard’s Castle with Opera Omaha.
Sasha York and Bret Samson
“We surprised Bret’s mom over Christmas! She almost fell over from happiness to see the two of us. Now we are just here in Tennessee, hanging out on the ponderosa and recovering from Nutcracker season.”
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Natasha Grimm
“I will be staying in town for the holidays. We are ringing in the new year at my baby niece’s house with our family and my soon-to-be-husband, Ed. After that, it is not much of a break for me! I will still be teaching, babysitting my niece, and planning our May wedding!”
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Erin Alarcón
“I flew home to New Jersey to spend Christmas with my family and to host a very special bridal shower for my sister this weekend. I am the maid of honor at her upcoming spring wedding — and this was a surprise for her! I will also be driving down to DC to spend some time with my best friend before heading back to Omaha.”
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Alberto Liberatoscioli
“I’m staying around here for Christmas. I won’t be in Italy until summer…too long trip and expensive. Plus the jet lag and… so…nope. I will stay with some friends and maybe have a closeby getaway for New Year’s Eve. I am also busy eating leftover fried chicken from the Spirit Lake tour.”
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Kelsey Schwenker
“I am going home to Boulder for Christmas and New Years and hoping to have a white Christmas (fingers crossed) in beautiful Colorado. Then I’m back in Omaha in January to resume my usual work shenanigans!”
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Claire Goodwillie
“After finishing our Nutcracker tour in Spirit Lake, I drove directly to Minneapolis for a few days, but I’m spending the rest of my break here in Omaha. During the last days of December and all through January, my schedule is packed with work. I will also be running student rehearsals for a studio where I teach.”
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Katie vanderMars, apprentice
“I will be flying home to Arizona to celebrate my birthday, Christmas and New Years, and then back to Omaha in January to teach and work!”
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