NL_121219

26 | December 12, 2019 | the new lenox patriot life & arts
newlenoxpatriotdaily.com
NL ballerina dances in the Commons with Ballet 5:8
Mary compton
Freelance Reporter
It was a perfect backdrop for a
ballet performance. Several trees
decorated with white lights glistened
through the New Lenox Village
Commons along with a gingerbread
house, a large ornament and
much more.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, five members
of Ballet 5:8 performed “Beyond
the Nutcracker” for residents
who attended Christmas in the
Commons. One dancer that performed
was Sophia Snider, a New
Lenox resident and Lincoln-Way
Central student.
“I have been dancing since I was
5 years old,” Snider said. “I’ve been
dancing with Ballet 5:8 since 2015.
“Tonight is such a blessing to be
performing in New Lenox. It’s always
fun for me to do little performances
like this. To be right in front
of the community and seeing their
faces I feel like I’m interacting with
them.”
Snider joins several other dancers
in “Beyond the Nutcracker” which
will be performed at Lincoln-Way
West Saturday, Dec. 21 and Sunday,
Dec. 22. According to a press
release from the ballet school, Ballet
5:8’s signature twist on The Nutcracker
is set in the 1940s and follows
a young girl, Emma Cooper,
on Christmas Eve as she wonders
whether the story of the first Christmas
could be real or have any bearing
on her life in her present day.
Her Uncle Abrams, just back from
WWII, and the angel Anastasis help
Emma answer her question through
a magical journey across the world.
“‘Beyond the Nutcracker” is
such a wonderful performance.
The costumes, the lighting, the sets
the music and the choreography is
amazing,” Snider said. “I’m a snow
angel, Anastasis, who gets to weave
in and out of the story and create the
storyline. It tells the story of Jesus’
birth and why we can have joy during
Christmas. This is one of my
favorite shows to dance because it’s
full of joy and I get to dance with
my friends.”
Snider is planning to continue
Sophia Snider jumps in the air in the New Lenox Village Commons as the
Christmas-lit trees illuminate behind her. Mary Compton/22nd Century Media
dancing in a professional training
program at Ballet 5:8 while taking
college courses online.
According to Ballet 5:8 Artistic
Director and Co-founder Julianna
Slager, the school currently has
over 400 students.
“We also have a professional
company of 25 dancers that travel
internationally,” she said. “We’re
grateful for the amount of growth
we’ve seen in the training and company
within our school.”
The five dancers performed just
parts of the performance at Christmas
in the Commons.
“It’s a wonderful ballet, very
family-friendly and very magical,”
Slager said. “It shows the true
meaning of Christmas. It takes the
music of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker
and pairs it with the real story of
what happened at the first Christmas.
It’s a beautiful piece that embodies
the part of Christmas.”
Several residents enjoyed watching
the ballet performance, including
Mayor Tim Baldermann and his
wife, Megan.
“Watching the ballet tonight, they
are amazing, incredibly professional,
what a nice addition to Christmas
in the Commons,” the mayor
said. “Christmas in the Commons is
a great opportunity for not only our
residents to come out here and show
a lot of pride in their community,
but for us to showcase the town to
so many people from so many different
towns.”
The mayor was happy to point
out the new gingerbread house and
the snowman that was lit near the
stage.
“We’ve expanded this as well going
from 4-8 p.m. every Saturday
and Sunday with different activities
happening every weekend along
with the market,” he said. “There is
something for everyone.”
As children were getting photos
taken in the sleigh, Mayor Baldermann
summed up the season.
“Christmas in New Lenox, people
here have great community spirit,
the holidays just magnify that,” he
said. “For me as the mayor, it’s an
opportunity for us to celebrate with
our residents and to showcase our
community to others such as what
we have witnessed tonight.”
Performances of “Beyond the
Nutcracker” will be at Lincoln Way
West High School, 21701 Gougar
Road, on Saturday, Dec. 21,
at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday,
Dec. 22, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18
for adults and $10 for children 12
and under and can be purchased at
ballet58.org or by calling (312)
725-4752; seating is reserved.
Performance information is at
ballet58.org/beyond-the-nutcrack
er.
2
Poetry Corner
MY AMAZON CAN! (Can
be sung to the tune, ‘The
Candy Man’)
Marcia Horan
New Lenox resident
Who can deliver in one
day?
So there’s no delay?
Right up to your door
All those things that
you adore.
My Amazon!
Yes, my Amazon can!
Who comes in a small
truck?
In no chimney he gets
stuck.
Delivering all my
wishes.
And he does it expeditious.
Yes, the Amazon man.
He delivers all he can
Just to meet the gift
demand.
Yes, my Amazon man!
It is making me feel
good
‘Cause they’re doing
what I should.
So I don’t have to shop
Black Friday.
I can have a rest this
holiday.
‘Cause fighting crowds
won’t ruin my play.
Shopping malls I’ll
forego.
No more driving in the
snow.
Warm in my abode
Staying in from all the
cold.
Thank you Amazon
man!
He’s better than Santa
Claus,
So anxiety I’ll toss.
Yes, my Amazon man!
Who can deliver in one
day,
So there’s no dismay?
I find I bought too much
With a simple computer
touch.
It’s the Amazon way!
Buying what I can
Just to meet my gift
demand.
Yes, my Amazon can!
Now my shopping’s all
done.
Gee, I had such fun!
The Visa bill is in the
mail.
When I see it, I turn
pale.
Racked up by a Cyber
Monday sale.
And we’ll all reach that
one day
When we have to pay.
So please don’t overspend
Buying things and gifts
on end.
It’s the Amazon way.
They deliver all they
can
So beware before you
scan.
Yes, my Amazon can!
If you want to submit a poem
to Poetry Corner, email Editor
Sean Hastings at sean@
newlenoxpatriot.com.