By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
This year’s “The Nutcracker: All Jazzed Up” has some surprises in store for its 14th production.
“That’s all I say,” said Julie Setzer, owner of Julie’s Dance Studio, which presents the local holiday staple. “We’re always trying to take it up a notch. I don’t want you to come back and see the exact same show for 14 years.”
One change that Setzer did reveal is that several alumni will be returning to perform in the show. That’s a first, she said.
Julie’s “Nutcracker … All Jazzed Up” will be staged Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Owens Community College Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, 7270 Biniker Road, Perrysburg Township. Click here for tickets. The studio is partnering with Sunset Bistro to offer hors d’oeuvres and drinks for purchase before each performance.
Last year the show could not be staged because of the pandemic. But Julie’s kept its reservation in for the theater for this year. The venue updated Setzer every few months. “So as soon as they let us know they were going to open, we jumped right on it,” she said.
Missing a year meant some adjustment for the young dancers.
While they were “super excited,” Setzer said, “we struggled when we first started rehearsals because some of these kids who are doing major roles now were just little kids two years ago. … They didn’t have that transition year. That’s been hard for them, but they’ve risen to the occasion. They’re doing really great. I’m really proud of them.”
The studio made it through the pandemic being “respectful” of all the health guidance. “When the governor shut us down, it was tough,” she said.
When classes resumed, they were smaller. Instead of running four dance rooms at a time, the studio had two. “We made it through,” Setzer said.
And most of the dancers kept at it. Julie’s was able to stage their spring recital earlier this year.
Now it’s full on “Nutcracker.”
In addition to the show at Owens, the troupe performs excerpts at a variety of community events. This year that included the Black Swamp Arts Festival and Rally BG on Main. A few weeks ago, they performed at the new senior center in Bowling Green. They will also have performances after the main production.
On Dec. 3 they will perform the whole show during the toy drive hosted by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and the Salvation Army.
These other performances are important for the dancers, Setzer said.
“We are a performance studio, so that’s what we do – we perform,” she said. “Any opportunity we can we get out there and give these kids exposure and that experience to be in front of a live crowd. It’s much easier to dance on a stage in front of 500 people when you can’t see them. That’s much easier than dancing when you can look someone eye to eye.”
