Columbia Classical Ballet's The Nutcracker , a huge success

By Mimi M. Maddock

On December 3, 2006, I attended Columbia Classical Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Koger Center. I admit I was not extremely excited about it because I had seen The Nutcracker in some form or another at least 20 times, maybe more. I took some friends ages ranging from 60s-80s; my granddaughters, ages seven and nine; my daughter-in-law, 30 something; and four teenagers. The audience was diverse. I am mentioning this because when the production began it kept the attention of all these different types of people for two hours. To do this, a performance has to be fantastic, and it was.

Everything went perfectly. Not a single cue or step was missed. The scenery was magnificent and the costumes grand. My hands were actually red from all the clapping we did during the performance and at the end. Radenko Pavlovich, artistic director of the Columbia Classical Ballet, should be commended for the fantastic choreography and the talent his students and company exhibited on stage.

As a student at the Pavlovich Dance School myself, I have seen these young people spending hours practicing, their dedicated parents waiting in the wings. Their hard work and countless hours in the studio paid off as they performed with such grace, discipline, and beauty.

Columbians are fortunate to be exposed to the professionals Pavlovich brought to this production. It is rare to see a combination of such athletic ability and perfection of dance in one production.

The entire community should appreciate the dedication of Lee Lumpkin, to the Columbia Classical Ballet. and Wachovia Bank for enabling so many people to attend the performances who normally would not get the chance.

When a child participates in a production like this, he not only learns to prepare for a dance, he develops an appreciation of the arts and uses many thinking and problem solving skills.

Columbia is unique in its support of the arts. It is definitely something we should all continue to support.