DC students experience a very DC Nutcracker

The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative brought 1,500 students to the Warner Theatre last Friday to view The Washington Ballet's "The Nutcracker" by Septime Webre. For most students, this was their first ballet - and probably the first time they had ever stepped foot into a theatre.

The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative brought 1,500 students to the Warner Theatre last Friday to view The Washington Ballet's "The Nutcracker" by Septime Webre. For most students, this was their first ballet - and probably the first time they had ever stepped foot into a theatre.

The performance was distinguished by its DC-centeredness. It took place in a Georgetown mansion and instead of traveling through Arabians, Gingerbread and Russians, Clara and her Nutcracker traveled to Springtime, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. They met Anacostian Native Americans, red cardinals, American frontiersmen, Mother Barnum and her circus clowns, and the Cherry Blossoms. While this sounds quite disparate from the traditional Nutcracker, the beautifully vibrant new costumes did not deter from the inherent joy of the production, nor did it distract the thousands of fascinated children.

Throughout the production, children shouted "BRAVOI!" and clap wildly at the sight of every split, leap and spin. It was truly a magical experience, and it would not have been possible without the DC Collaborative.

The DC Collaborative provides access for all DC public and charter school stuents to attend arts and cultural events as an integral part of their education. Through their programming, DC students are eligible for free tickets and transportation to local arts and cultural organizations and free in-school performances and workshops. Over 38,000 students are exposed to programming from over 100 local arts organizations. The hope is that the arts will enrich students' lives - enhancing their creativity, curiosity and enthusiasim for learning.

Thank you, DC Collaborative, for not only giving me my annual Nutcracker fix, but for also providing such opportunities for our students.