Nutcracker ballet features local talent

Published Dec. 14, 2012
By Pascual Flores
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Five ballerinas from the joint base community will perform the Nutcracker Suite at the Rancocas Valley Regional High School Performing Arts Center at 2 and 7 p.m. today.

The JB MDL performers include Katie, 6, daughter of Navy Capt. William Bulis, JB MDL deputy commander, and wife Eva; Rachel, 16, daughter of Air Force Col. Chris Patterson, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center deputy commander, and wife Lynne-Alison; twins Ana and Camille, 8, daughters of Air Force Lt. Col. Brent Mesquit, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron commander, and wife Lisa; and Eva, 8, daughter of Air Force Lt. Col. Emmett Wingfield, 819th Global Support Squadron commander, and wife Cally.

All are members of the Mount Laurel Ballet Company and will join the Donetsk Ballet Company in the Suite's performance.

The daughters were asked about the roles they portray and what the upcoming performance meant to them.

"My main role is the part of Clara, but I also dance as a Snowflake," said Rachel. "I love classical ballets and performing in shows such as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella."

Rachel is no stranger to dancing. Enrolled into a ballet, tap and tumbling class at 3, she has continued to improve her dancing abilities to include modern and jazz.

"Being able to perform with an internationally known ballet company is incredible," said Patterson. "When I watch the Ukrainians dance my breath is taken away. They perform with such ease and grace."

Dancing for a second time in a Nutcracker Suite performance are sisters, Ana and Camille Mesquit, who perform as little dolls and Polichinelles'.

When asked how it feels to be performing in the Suite, Camille responded, "It feels like a great and amazing privilege."

The young ladies were drawn to ballet for different reasons, one through reading about the Nutcracker, and the other by seeing it performed. The duo are planning to pursue ballet in the future, but via different paths.

Ana would like to pursue ballet in Russia and Camille is looking forward to perform in Hawaii.

Asked how it feels to be performing with the Donetsk Ballet Company, Camille responded, "It's a great privilege and something not everyone gets to do."

Composer Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky conducted the first Nutcracker Suite in December 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia.