Cooper Dance Studios’ Kansas Youth Dance Company once again will bring “The Nutcracker” to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. This year Christian Delery, a professional dancer, will perform with the dance students.
Delery, 21, is a medical student at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. He has been dancing professionally for nine years.
“I used to act as a kid in the performance,” Delery said of his younger years. “I liked what I saw so I got into training to be a dancer.”
Jesse Cooper, owner of Cooper Studios Dance Center, met Delery while dancing for the same company, Dayton Ballet. Delery is now a freelance dancer.
“Once the season ended I moved back here to open my studio and he moved to New Orleans,” Cooper said of their years with the Ohio dance company.
This year there are 45 area youths in the show.
“The kids have been great this year,” Cooper said. “This is our biggest performance of the year with scenery and costumes. It always seems like we just make it in time.”
Wednesday night at dress rehearsal the dance students were “ironing out” the performance. Delery arrived to Iola this week and Cooper said he is proud of how seamlessly he has fit into the show with the student dancers.
“The kids have advanced again,” he said. “There is more pointe work in the show.”
Delery said he is happy to perform with the students.
“I’m looking forward to the show,” he said. “I’ve never played the prince before.”
Although he has only been here this week Delery already has a favorite scene.
“I really enjoy the party scene. It has kids of all ages,” Delery said. “It teaches the kids how to have a presence on stage. It’s inspiring to see.”
The studio will present The Nutcracker at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. Tickers are $10.
