As far as holiday traditions go, it’s hard to top how Rachel Werner and daughter Phoebe spend their December. They’re among the 150 dancers who take to the stage at Overture Center for Madison Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker.
Rachel, an assistant editor at Brava magazine and a member of Madison Ballet’s board of directors, has been dancing for more than twenty years. And seven-year-old Phoebe started taking ballet classes when she was just two. While she’s also passionate about martial arts, acting at Children’s Theater of Madison summer camps and singing in her church’s children’s choir, there’s something undoubtedly special about sharing the Nutcracker experience with her mom. Rachel explains what it’s meant for them.
How did you both get involved with the Nutcracker in Madison?
I just decided to “come out of retirement” and auditioned on a whim four years ago. Then the following year, Phoebe was old enough to audition and be in the show as well. I really hope these years of us both performing with Madison Ballet and Overture Center will be wonderful memories for her when she is older.
How many times have you each performed? And what were your roles?
This is the fourth consecutive year for me and Phoebe’s third. I am the Spanish Mother in the Party Scene again for the third time (my character is a bit of a diva!), although my first year I was the Indian Mother (which was interesting because that costume barely stayed on — I don’t think traditionally saris are meant to show that much skin). Phoebe was a Baby Mouse and Garden Attendant her first two years, but is a Pulcinella this year.
What’s been a favorite Nutcracker experience for you? How about for Phoebe?
My favorite part of Nutcracker is dancing with live music (shout out to the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra!). And Phoebe adores being in the school performances; she really likes being onstage for an audience that is mostly other children.
What are you most looking forward to in this year’s performance?
Our last performance being on Christmas Eve. It’s a pretty magical way share in the holiday season of others and makes that day very special for the two of us too!
What does it mean to have this experience together?
We’re exhausted in December, and have almost no free weekends from October until the end of the year. But, in all seriousness, it’s been eye-opening in a unique way to begin to see and understand more the ways in which we are similar and also very different. We both do truly enjoy being in Nutcracker, but not for the same reasons. And I’m very much looking forward to watching in the years ahead where my daughter’s love for being onstage (in any capacity) takes her in the future.
What other holiday traditions do you have?
We always go out to dinner after performing on Christmas Eve and attend Mass that night as well.
Madison Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs December 9-26 at Overture Hall in Madison. For more information, visit overture.org.
Photos by Gena Larson.