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Show Christmas is ballet for Jackie Colledge t I. - i. . . . I I' ' s , I ,. , i 1 By BETTY FOWLEK Sounds of Tchaikovsky's score for "Nutcracker" reverberates through the studio as dancers rehearse the strenuous, but beautiful choreography. Utah Youth Ballet is at it again. Their Christmas gift to the state is almost completed. Hut not before months of planning, rehearsals and costume building have been accomplished. Eight and nine year olds rehearse like veterans, trying hard to stifle giggles. Many, with their hair in topknots, practice intricate ballet maneuvers. Their concentration is broken only when they glance toward Jackie IVice Colledge, expecting a smile or nod of approval. The haunting notes of "Waltz of the1 Flowers" echoes as a ballet corps, with intense concentration, rehearse the exciting choreography as prepared by their director, Jackie Price Colledge. , "Members of Ballet West come down and dance with them," commented Jackie "One of them said, 'Oh, it's so fun to practice with the young ones.'" Jackie laughed, "They're all young ones!" Utah Youth Ballet's production of "Nutcracker" is not a parade of professionals. It's a magnificent performance of youth set to music. It's the excitement and cxhuberancc of emerging ballet stars who are being introduced to a never-to-lc forgotten Christmas experience. Jackie lx'gan her life with ballet and "NuUTacker" when she was just a teen. She, with her mom, would travel to Salt I-ake City several times a week where she received expert ballet instruction from William Christensen (Mister C) and Benet Arnold. All the miles and money spent on lessons paid off when Jackie was named a soloist for Ballet West. She traveled to Europe and throughout the United States dancing with Ballet West professionals. Following her marriage to Joe Colledge, she taught at BYU and (Continued on page 17) EXAMINING EVERY MOVE, Jackie CoI.edge ctnTenloT mak.ng "The Nutcracker perfect in each scene. - i : r" ' ' ' I w y fv '-- ; l I j A1 I N- .J i ! " S" 1 J 7 I : ! I ' ....... S JACKIE COLLKDGK gives Melissa Pace and David Woods pointers on the details of the ballet. 0 Nutcracker production is celebration of youth Continued from front section began private instruction in her own studio. Acknowledging her easily recognizable talent, Jacqueline's School of Dance became Utah Youth Ballet developed under the auspices of the Utah Pageant of the Arts. Christmas to Jackie is costumes; THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE-Jackie demonstrates the proper moves to dancers Corinne Adams and David Woods. Christmas is leg warmers and leotards, Christmas is snacks on the go, Christmas is conferences with stage managers, and technicians. And Christmas to Jackie is giving her fledglings the kind of instruction that will fill them with the thrill and excitement of Tchaikovsky's beautiful music and perfecting the techniques that will make their ballet experience memorable. The studio is full of dancers in front of mirrors, working on the bars, pirouetting on toe slippers, and questioning the patient director, "Was I okay?" Anxious parents watch, huddled in corners where their presence will not inhibit the children. Their awestruck expressions reveal the unreality of it all, thinking "my ' child can do that?" Jackie claps her hands to the notes of "Wood Nymphs." Despite the fact that she speaks softly, her presence is felt enormously. She demands and gets total respect. "You've gotta do this to count? The hardest thing about pantomime is slowing things down!" All dancers stop to watch as Laura Clarke and David Wood rehearse the Grand Pas de deaux. It's as though a feather of magic touches everyone. The magnificient choreography is matched only by the capabilities of the soloists. A visitor to the dance studio exclaimed, "She's Jackie Price Colledge? My goodness, I thought she was one of the students." That assumption was quickly dispelled as the visitor listened to Jackie after a group of children completed their difficult choreography. "How do you bow?" "Point that toe." "Curtsey." "Do cartwheels again. I know you can do better." Laughing, the children take front and center stage again, accepting the instruction as if they'd just been given a Cabbage Patch doll. Jackie's authority is evident as even the most polished soloists dart questioning glances toward their director, questioning, pleading for the inevitable positive gesture. She glides, issues orders quietly, demonstrates arm and head movements, but every dancer knows that they are taking instruction from a master, and there is nothing but dedication in the Utah Youth Ballet Her mom, Sarah Price, is costume mistress. Her sisters help, her aunts devote time to the annual production of "Nutcracker". It's a family gift and if you could have one present that would remain monumental in your Christmas memories, it would be a ticket to Utah Youth Ballet's "Nutcracker". : . j (. f ; ' - ' 1 S . , I v. ... : ; ' ' f s- ij i i sf -) u ? i J : t ; ..jiuLiuiiiLiiiiMiiniitr t ""- '-iWiiMliBiiTiTiwiirTn-ii uirrnrr-ff' ''-w-IimimtiT -n ANGELLA ADAMSON, 14, glances at her instructor to make sure ij she is making all the right moves. JACKIE COLLEDGE watches carefully as she puts the dancers through their paces. .... .. ... 1 ' . Q j I ' i rtCu7aX.r7;oWnakes is Snow Queen Melissa Pace of American Fork, as .ocal dancers prepare for Utah Youth Ballet production of "The Nutcracker |