When I was a young girl I was cast as an angel in the Ruth Page production of The Nutcracker in Chicago. It was a small part, and after I danced I had to sit on stage–on a hard wooden stool–all the way through the second act. There was only one thing I looked forward to during these perfomances…seeing Rebecca Wright dance the Sugar Plum.

Ms. Wright was the picture of femininity as she floated across the stage. She made me hold my breath when she danced, and she could turn faster than anyone I had ever seen. I still remember the beads of sweat flying off of her as she spun madly around the stage–the lights catching each drop and lighting it up for those of us who were close enough to see… [Read more…]