Every four years, the OU School of Dance presents “The Nutcracker,” a beloved fairy tale ballet that transports audiences from a holiday party to the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets through a child’s dream.
As Clara, the main character, travels to the Land of Snow, she meets the Snow Queen and King who present her with a sleigh to complete her journey to the Land of Sweets.
This year, the two dancers cast as the Snow Queen are both international students.
Vitoria Correia headshot.
Ballet performance junior Vitoria Correia and ballet performance and economics freshman Melissa Quiros Diaz are sharing the role of the Snow Queen in this year's production of "The Nutcracker."
Correia trained at the Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil and came to OU in 2022, and Quiros Diaz studied at a university in Costa Rica until this year.
Melissa Quiros Diaz headshot.
For Quiros Diaz, ballet came to her in a dream when she was 3 years old. When the dream kept reappearing, Quiros Diaz’s parents started her in classes at a dance school.
“I told my parents I dreamed of a ballerina, and I wanted to go to ballet class. I was so little, but (the dream) didn’t stop. I had this dream for so long, so they finally got me in (classes),” Quiros Diaz told OU Daily.
"The Nutcracker" is a similarly popular Christmas tradition as it is in the U.S. Given the small number of ballet companies in Costa Rica, "The Nutcracker" is the only production Quiros Diaz performed in her home country and is often the only production for many groups there.
“There’s not a lot of ballet culture there because it’s really expensive,” Quiros Diaz said. “'The Nutcracker' was my only experience in Costa Rica, and it’s something many people expect and are looking forward to.”
In Brazil, however, Correia said "The Nutcracker" is not as popular compared to the U.S. Though Correia previously performed in "The Nutcracker" many times, she said Spanish ballets, such as "Don Quixote," are more prominent.
“All the productions in Spanish have more of a caliente and warm feeling, and I feel that the public responds to them better,” Correia said. "In Brazil, dance is not only a thing you watch on stage. Here it’s not like that, but it makes our time on stage more precious.”
Balancing rehearsals for this production with sleep and schoolwork challenged both of the Snow Queens. However, Quiros Diaz also faced a mental journey of self-confidence after being cast in the role.
Melissa Quiros Diaz rehearsing with Julian Cottrell.
“Sometimes I would have negative thoughts like, ‘I don't know why they picked me, and I cannot do this thing,’” Quiros Diaz said. “Working on that self-confidence has been hard, but I think it's also a good thing.”
The Snow Queens’ efforts to improve by working through corrections with professors paid off. For Correia, her efforts came to fruition when the Land of Snow scene was finally pieced together with the Snowflakes.
Many classical ballets, such as "Swan Lake" and "Giselle," are stories that involve tragedy and the death of main characters. This is not the case in “The Nutcracker,” and both Correia and Quiros Diaz emphasize the contrast and the feeling of magic that "The Nutcracker" creates.
“Ballets are usually really tragic, but this one is such a beautiful thing to see,” Quiros Diaz said. “It’s like having a break from real life when you watch something this magical.”
The Snow Queens said they hope their performances bring the festivity and magic of Christmastime to the audience.
“I hope (the audience) gains a moment of peace and joy, because that’s what it’s all about,” Correia said. “It’s a dream of a child during Christmas, and it’s such a pure story that people can enjoy it.”
The Snow Queen performs during the University Theatre rehearsal of "The Nutcracker" on Nov. 29.
OU School of Dance’s “The Nutcracker” will conclude after its last show at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Elsie C. Brackett Theatre. Tickets range from $10 to $30, and the production is suitable for all audiences.
During the last week of production, Quiros Diaz will perform on Thursday at 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. Correia will perform on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
This story was edited by Emma Blakley and Karoline Leonard. Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
