Willow Glen Resident

Education

Wooden soldiers and snow fairies part of 'Nutcracker'

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The crowd is abuzz with excitement. Against a painted backdrop depicting a fireplace with festive stockings hung from the mantel, Clara enters, twirling, rosy-cheeked and smiling. The crowd claps and The Nutcracker begins.

This production has been presented annually for the last 17 years and has an interesting twist: The actors are 4- and 5-year-olds from Explorer Preschool, a parent participation school in Willow Glen.

Clara falls asleep, holding her nutcracker doll. Suddenly, a curly-haired, life-size nutcracker marches in, sword in hand.

The two eventually do a waltz, fairies sprinkle snow and glitter, and a group of mice and tin soldiers fight.

Each preschooler rehearses all the play's parts, says school director Konne Ainseworth.

Two days before the show, Ainseworth asks each of the students what part they would like to play, and that's how decisions are made about casting.

"We keep it low-key," she says. "We want them to think it's just another day, that it's really driven by their own creativity and ideas."

All the costumes are handmade, and parents put together a DVD for everyone to keep.

The tradition is something many of the school's families look forward to every year.

This year was especially close to the heart of Ainseworth, who has been part of the school for the last 32 years through its move from the Cambrian area to its location on Booksin Avenue. The Almaden resident's grandson, Luke Ainseworth, played the lead this year.

"It's very rewarding," Ainseworth says.

The preschool is a developmental school and focuses on ways for the children to explore and enjoy their education through play and activities like The Nutcracker.

"This gives them a sense of community, a sense of pride," says school board president Sabina Net.

Net's daughter Eva attended the preschool, and her son Neal was a Russian dancer in this year's production.

"I've seen them blossom and express themselves," Net says. "This helps them build their self-esteem."