During the final in-studio rehearsal weekend at Fredericksburg Ballet Centre (FBC), the building on Lafayette Street hums with organized chaos.
IF YOU GO
Fredericksburg Ballet Centre presents The Nutcracker, at James Monroe High School, Sat. Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sun. Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the studio or by phone ($20 w/discounts), or at the door ($25 cash only).
Familiar classical music floats down from one studio while in another, young dancers create a makeshift green room —spreading blankets, coloring, whispering and laughing as they stay warm in sweaters and robes. Posters from past productions line the walls, reminders that this Nutcracker has been a Fredericksburg holiday tradition for 44 years.
If you linger long enough, you’ll hear teenagers — now seasoned after growing up in the show — naturally take charge. “Cooks, go to studio two,” one calls out, guiding younger dancers to their space. It’s in these moments that the spirit of the FBC Nutcracker reveals itself: intergenerational, collaborative and deeply rooted.
The FBC Nutcracker is sustained by a network that dancers describe as “one big family.” Owner and Executive Director Jen Cleaton, in her 29th year as owner and director, calls the annual holiday production “a labor of love. From the choreographers, prop makers and costumers, as well as from me, the producer”.
That love is mirrored by the staff, whom many of the dancers think of as more than just teachers. As dancer Riely Bullock, who played Clara last year and performs as Dewdrop this season, said of instructor Cristi Saunders, “I think she knows me better than I know myself.”
Mentorship and bonding are keys to the show’s continued popularity. Sara Mellinger, whose daughter spent 11 seasons in the production, said the ballet center instills “reliability, teamwork, and confidence.”
Cleaton emphasized the studio’s commitment to tradition. “We stay true to the classic ballet art form, with all the backdrops and scenery,” she said.
But tradition doesn’t mean sameness. Among this year’s choreographers is Jen Cleaton’s daughter Ashley, who danced at FBC for 15 years and is now a teacher. Her approach blends ballet with jazz, tap, lyrical, and musical theater — styles she teaches daily — to strengthen storytelling and character work.
Ashley Cleaton, seen here performing in the Marzipan scene in a previous performance, is now general manager and choreographer. (Photo by Zunic Inc. DBA Fredericksburg Ballet Centre)
“I really like to work with the character of the piece,” Ashley Cleaton said. “And find different ways to incorporate things like character shoes, props like castanets, butterfly wings and shepherd’s hooks into my pieces as well.”
What doesn’t change is the effort required. The team stages this full-length ballet in only eight weeks.
“The audience doesn’t realize how tiring ballet can be,” Ashley Cleaton said. “One thing you learn as a ballerina is to make it look easy when you are exhausted.”
For the dancers, “The Nutcracker“ is both a rite of passage and a source of pride. Leah DiPace, 14, is one of this year’s Claras, along with Samantha Bullock. She noted how the role has expanded her artistic range.
“When you get bigger roles, you have to think about all the different emotions,” DiPace said. “It helps you grow as a dancer.”
Younger dancers are growing dreams of their own. Third-grader Jillian Young, a Peppermint, wants to be Clara someday so she can “hold the nutcracker on stage.” Fourth-grader Lily Mitchell Fraser is thrilled to be in the Land of Sweets scene— though her ultimate goal remains to play “the Harlequin Doll…or Clara.”
As one teen put it, “There are so many amazing roles that matter.”
What audiences will see is the magic of snowfall, costumes, music, and youthful joy. What they won’t see is the unseen heartbeat behind it: 44 years of dedication, creativity, and the belief that every dancer—from tiny Peppermint to Dewdrop—helps bring the story to life.
