Many girls dream of playing Clara, the young girl in The Nutcracker who receives a mysterious gift from a favorite uncle and travels on a magical journey to the Kingdom of the Sweets.  This year, two Princeton Ballet School students, Lyndsay Jorgensen and Emilia Kraft, will be portraying "Clara" in ARB's Nutcracker.  To find out more about what it's like to dance the lead student role in this year's production, I asked Lyndsay some questions:

Q. When you first found out that you were going to play Clara in The Nutcracker, were
you excited? How did you feel?

A. I was extremely excited and honored. I couldn’t wait to start learning the role!

Q.  How old are you now? And at what age did you begin dancing?

A. I am 14. I started ballet when I was 2 1/2 and started at Princeton Ballet School when I was 4.

Q. Do you think that you will continue to dance for many years?

A. Yes, definitely. I would very much like to pursue a career in dance; it will always be
a part of my life. In fact, when I go too long without dancing (like over a break) I get
cranky!

Q. What is your favorite scene in The Nutcracker and why?

A. I think my favorite scene is Snow because I really love the music and the beautiful
costumes. I also like when it snows on stage; it seems so magical!

Q. If you had to play another part in The Nutcracker, who would you like to play and
why?

A. There are so many interesting and challenging roles; I have so many favorites! If I had
to choose, I think some of my favorites to dance would be Spanish and Snow. Spanish
is a very sharp and lively dance and Snow has complex steps. They both seem like they
would be exciting roles to perform.

Q. What do you think is the most difficult part about playing Clara?

A. Probably the hardest part about playing Clara is staying in character throughout the whole
performance. You have to be aware of your every move at all times. I think it’s actually
one of the most fun roles, though, because you have the opportunity to interact with all
the other dancers.