December 2023 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship Accepting Applications

growingupsc — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 06:28:05 +0000

Undergraduate and graduate students studying music with ambitions for future careers can take time over the holiday break to apply for the DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship. Sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the scholarship provides a one-time $5,000 award to one student annually who is pursuing undergraduate or graduate study in music. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was a groundbreaking African American contralto and an inspiration for civil rights. “This scholarship pays tribute to Marian Anderson’s life, and the Daughters of the American Revolution seeks to honor her legacy through today’s aspiring musicians. Her legacy lives on in others who aim for excellence in musical studies, are committed to their communities, and willing to stand up for what is right,” said Pamela Wright, DAR President General. Applicants should be accepted or currently enrolled in an accredited university or college in the United States and have a concentration in music in their course of study. Music performance, composition, theory, or education are all areas that students may be specialized in to qualify for the scholarship. They should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent GPA on the scale used by the institution is required. In honor of Ms. Anderson’s commitment to the community throughout her life and her willingness to share her incredible talent with the world, applicants are asked to write a personal statement describing their humanitarian or volunteer contributions on behalf of their community and/or country. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2024. To recognize the city Marian Anderson called home, preference will be given to students from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan area, even if they are not pursuing music studies in the Philadelphia area. This scholarship is not automatically renewed. However, recipients may reapply for consideration each year for up to four consecutive years. The scholarship is supported by the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Marian Anderson Legacy Fund. Learn more about the relationship between Marian Anderson and the DAR, and the organization’s on-going efforts to honor her memory at www.dar.org/MarianAnderson.

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Curiosity Fills the Dad

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:19:24 +0000

Was it really a year ago I was walking outside Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater and saw a mom and her daughter eating lunch between the young one’s performance in the Nutcracker? I couldn’t resist stopping to talk, even though it drives my boy, Parker, crazy. He complains that we never get anywhere because I always talk to people. How can I not? That’s one of the great things about journalism–meeting people and hearing their stories. I’ve always been curious, since before I was Parker’s age (I must have been 4) and I followed the mailman for blocks and blocks because I wanted to see where the mail came from. Only, after a while, I realized I was lost and had no idea how to get home. These were the good ol’ days and the mail person was chatting with a group of moms sitting outside their apartment. I walked up to them, crying my eyes out and terrified. Luckily, it was a small neighborhood and they knew my mom, even though I didn’t know them. One of them walked me home. I never knew where my curiosity would lead and more often than not it leads to great things. Like our cover story this month. I started chatting with Brynn Campbell, 9, and her mom, Cara about what it was like to perform and they were both glowing. Parker caught the bug just listening. And it sparked my curiosity. How did it work? How long did it take to practice and learn? Was it fun? Was it rewarding? Parker was already crazy for the glorious musical theater show and we have nutcrackers around the house year round. And then he said the most shocking thing, that he wanted to be in it next year. And here we are. He’s been rehearsing since September and I don’t know which of us is more nervous and excited about his Dec. 16 and 17 performances. And I finally got answers to my questions, what it takes to prepare, how do they learn all this, what’s it like to perform to a big audience? I got director Shannon Chipman to keep a journal about her year-round work on the show. You can read it here and share the joy. Thanks for reading!Brad Kava,Editor and Publisher

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Community Bridges Offers Affordable and Robust Preschool Program

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:56:31 +0000

The first five years of a child’s life are an essential period for their development, and providing access to high quality, nurturing and affordable early education is crucial. In Santa Cruz County, the Community Bridges Early Education Division has been a pillar of support for families seeking a quality, affordable program. We understand some of the challenges of balancing work and family life and hope we can support families in ways that can enhance your lives. With recent changes to the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), we are now even more accessible and affordable for local families What is the Early Education Division?The Community Bridges Early Education Division operates six centers throughout Santa Cruz County, offering nurturing, free, or affordable early education. The family fees are determined on a sliding scale based on income, making it accessible to a wide range of families. Additionally, free or low-cost care is available for families that qualify by income and are working, providing further support for those who need it. The program offers flexible schedules in our tuition-based program and full-day care to accommodate various schedules. Lowering BarriersThe recent changes to the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) have opened new opportunities for families. Families with incomes up to 15% over the State Median Index income threshold may qualify for full-day CSPP. This means, for example, that a family of four making $10,857 or less per month is now eligible for free or low-cost services, with many families paying a maximum of around $75 per month. These changes ensure that financial barriers do not hinder children’s access to quality early education.Additionally, every July, children who turn three on or before December 1 of the current year are eligible for CSPP services, extending access to more children. Families with a need for care due to work, English classes, college classes with vocational goals, or who are actively job-seeking may also qualify for the program. Automatic qualifiers for CSPP programs, including recipients of WIC, CalFresh, CalWorks, or children with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), are given priority access to CSPP.Community Bridges also offers a tuition-based program in Ben Lomond serving infants, toddlers and preschool children. We accept HSD and Go Kids payments.All of our programs are part of Quality Counts Santa Cruz County and are inclusive and serve children with disabilities. Developmental Excellence and Supportive CurriculumThe Community Bridges Early Education Division is committed to providing children with a strong foundation for healthy development and school readiness. Through a dynamic, play based program, we foster:• A love of learning• Literacy and numeracy skills• Social and emotional development• Curiosity, exploration, and creativity• Cooperation and collaboration• Problem-solving skills• Respect for self, family, community, and the environmentThis approach ensures that children not only acquire essential academic skills but also develop emotionally and socially, setting them up for success in the future. Uniting Families and TeachersThe program recognizes that parents are the experts on their own children and aims to provide resources and opportunities for families to strengthen their parenting skills, share information, and build partnerships within the community. This collaborative approach ensures that parents are actively involved in their children’s education and well-being. Each member of the teaching team at the Community Bridges Early Education Division has chosen their career, because of their passion for this age, and interest in each child’s learning. Many are bicultural/bilingual, are CPR and First Aid certified, trained in the health and safety practices, and obtain Child Development Permits issued by CA commission on Teacher Credentialing. With a commitment to ongoing professional development and Early Childhood Education units, the staff is dedicated to providing a nurturing and enriching environment for every child. The Community Bridges Early Education Division program is a champion for families seeking affordable and robust early education in Santa Cruz County. With the recent changes to the California State Preschool Program, access to these invaluable services has become even more attainable, ensuring that every child in the community has the opportunity to develop and thrive in a supportive and enriching educational environment.Join our team. Interested in a career working with children and families? We offer a competitive salary and package and are actively recruiting teachers in SLV and Santa Cruz. Visit communitybridges.org/eed for more information. There are two sites in Watsonville, two in Santa Cruz, and two in the San Lorenzo Valley:WatsonvilleFairgrounds Center2667 East Lake Ave.831.400.1150 Santa CruzNuevo Dia Center135 Leibrandt Avenue831.400.1140San Lorenzo ValleyRedwood Mountain Center7103 Highway 9Felton831.400.1160

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Help, It’s the Holidays!

Laura Maxson — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:52:35 +0000

The holiday season is a busy time. Parties and events with friends and extended family can leave pregnant and new parents feeling frazzled. Here’s some help to navigate some potentially stressful holiday situations. It’s not uncommon to be exposed to potentially traumatic or frightening birth stories during social situations. While a pregnant person can simply excuse themselves from a group if the topic gets too intense, a one-on-one situation can be a little trickier. One idea is to physically reach out and touch the storyteller’s arm. Say clearly, “Oh, I’m trying not to hear any stories about (getting an epidural, having a cesarean, a baby in the intensive care unit, etc.) right now.” Offer to hear the story after the baby comes, then ask a question about something safer like diapering tips. With extended family visiting for the holidays, free-flowing parenting advice often follows. It can be difficult for grandparents and others to hear how what they did years ago, often on doctor’s orders (wean the baby, make baby sleep through the night, start solids at a few weeks of age) is now bad advice. Assume that, however hurtful their advice may seem, it is given out of love, and perhaps ignorance of current guidelines, or your specific choices. Take a moment to see that defending your current parenting decisions might be seen as criticizing their past choices. Try to acknowledge the feelings behind the advice; “I know you are concerned about Sarah nursing so often, but…” or “I can tell you are nervous about Noah’s sleeping arrangements, but…” Give them concrete information and any facts that support your choices. You can always enlist your pediatrician’s advice. “I know you gave Michelle solids at two-months, but we agree with our doctor’s advice to do it this way.” Clearly state when a topic is not open to discussion. (Be united on this.)Take a hard look at holiday expectations. All the extras can be exhausting, especially when pregnant. • Take time out to rest. • Take advantage of online shopping. • Be sure to only eat buffet foods that are fully cooked, and served at the proper temperature. • Avoid eggnog that is not pasteurized or is made with raw eggs while pregnant. • Try not to skip meals.

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Finding Peace and Joy During the Holidays

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:45:22 +0000

There have been many devastating events happening the last several years, one right after another. Lives and homes have been lost, and it feels as though the tidal wave of tragedies is relentless. It’s emotionally exhausting, and it’s hard not to get weighed down with fear and sadness every time I read the news.Yet this is also a time of year when many people celebrate holidays that represent hope, peace, and new beginnings. It’s hard to feel the true meaning of these holidays when we’re stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, but Taking Care of Yourself is one of the 5 principles of positive parenting that’s so important – now more than ever. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is helping raise children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole, The holidays are approaching, which always stresses me out no matter how much I try to embrace the holiday spirit. I love spending this special time with family, but between working full-time, managing my kids’ busy schedules, and helping my aging parents, I feel constant pressure. I’m exhausted and end up throwing “adult tantrums” when I’ve taken on too much. Do you have any tips to avoid total burnout so I can actually find joy this season, rather than just wishing it would pass quickly? I could really use some advice before the holidays get here. – Rebekah Dear Rebekah,You’re not alone! This is a common issue in many families, and the holidays have a way of magnifying emotions so that even small things become a huge deal. Here are a few tips to try: Notice the early signs of tension and stress in your body, before the “adult tantrum” occurs. Common signs can include: Tense or stiff muscles, headaches, irritability or anger, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, feeling overwhelmed or unable to keep up, and an upset stomach. Use relaxation strategies. When you’re feeling tense or stressed, try to relax your mind and body by breathing in slowly through your nose. When you’ve taken a full breath, pause for a moment, then breathe out slowly through your nose or mouth. Repeat these slow, deep breaths a few times. Or close your eyes for a few minutes and imagine a place that makes you feel peaceful and relaxed. It could be a forest, a meadow, the beach, another country, or a dark room with no one around you. Use your imagination to see every color and hear every sound. Take deep breaths as you envision this peaceful place and imagine your stress leaving your body each time you exhale.Use coping statements. In stressful situations, you might find yourself automatically thinking negativethings about yourself, other people, or the situation that’s happening, which can add to your stress. Try telling yourself some coping statements or affirmations, such as: “I will focus on what is most important this season – my own health and quality time with loved ones.” Or “I will aim for ‘good enough’ rather than perfect when it comes to gifts, meals, and hosting.” Using positive self-talk can help reframe thoughts when you notice tension rising and prevent your stress from escalating further. Remember to acknowledge your efforts, and that joy and connection can happen even when things aren’t going flawlessly.Ask family members for their help. Have a family discussion ahead of the holidays to set expectations around celebrations, gift-giving, sharing tasks, and parenting duties with your partner or co-parent. Making these plans upfront helps prevent conflicts. Talk with your children about how they can be helpful during the holidays. Prepare them for possible changes in their daily routines, especially if you have guests staying with you. Let your children know which family rules can be flexible during the holidays, and which ones they’ll need to follow as usual.Give yourself permission to say no. This can seem impossible for people who are natural-born helpers and thrive when they’re busy. Yet it’s vitally important to take care of yourself so that you have the physical and emotional energy to keep going. Let go of any guilt or fear of missing out when you say no, and notice how it feels to have fewer demands on your time FINAL THOUGHTS: Holidays are both joyful and stressful for all types of families. Take steps to minimize stress and give yourself peace of mind so that you and your family can create memories filled with love, joy, and laughter. Nicole Young is the mother of two young adults, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit triplep.first5scc.org, facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

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Holidays with Kids: Keeping the Magic and Joy at the Center

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:42:49 +0000

Over the years, I have been privileged to teach with and to hear several talks given by one of our local treasures, Julie Olsen Edwards, Cabrillo College’s retired early childhood education faculty member, author, editor, and diversity/equity consultant. One of her talks regarding families and the holidays lives on in my work with families of young children. Julie’s wisdom is always golden and, paired with Positive Discipline’s practical tools, I developed solid advice for parents that I give out every year to help ensure connection and magic in children’s homes. What Memories Do We Want To Pass On?Holidays and ritual celebrations can be a time of change from the relentless, busy pace of everyday life. It offers a pause, a time to remember what’s important, and the opportunity to create lifetime memories. In a season of wintery darkness, the many celebrations of light from the Hindu holiday, Diwali, to the Solstice, to Hannukkah, to Christmas, to Kwanzaa, and many more, are meant to lighten us up. Sadly, too often many factors end up creating more darkness rather than upliftment in our lives. These factors can include the expense and stress of long-distance travel with young children, cultural and familial expectations and obligations that parents struggle to meet, the financial burden and time-consuming task of gift giving, pressure to cook and serve large meals and baked goods special to the holiday, hosting out of town family guests or staying at non-child-friendly homes of relatives, decorating the home or purchasing holiday clothes, etc. Parents under pressure with too many obligations equals stress. One role of parents that is not often talked about is the role of creating childhood memories for their family. What memories would you like your children to have? A holiday where their parents are quick to anger and stressed out? Or a holiday where their parents are relaxed, smiling, and enjoying time together? Take a moment to recall a favorite childhood holiday memory or, if you did not have happy holidays to remember, think about what would you have liked to have happened. Picture the scene. What was happening? What was special about it? What was the feeling? The formula for making these same magical holiday memories happen for your children is to prioritize and edit. Make Holiday Plans from the Inside Out, Not the Outside In Begin by looking inside yourself and get clear about the aspects of the holiday that are very important to you and create a joyful feeling. Your list may include:1) Time with relatives far or near2) Cooking and eating special meals together, or baking holiday treats3) Participation in religious or spiritual celebrations with your community4) Taking part in acts of service for the community5) Creating a festive home6) Exchanging special gifts for loved ones7) Participating in your own unique holiday family traditions and activities you’ve created8) Writing and sending out holiday cards9) Hosting a yearly holiday celebration in your home for friends and relatives or attending the many work parties and parties with neighbors/friends/family 10) Staying home for the holiday, going at a leisurely pace throughout the day, inviting family to stop by rather than venturing out To try and do all of these things and more is a formula for stress when parents are in a constant state of being stretched financially and emotionally. Stressed-out parents create stressed-out children. If you look to the outside world’s holiday expectations, (your family and culture), the holiday can become a burden. So start by searching inside your heart for your guidance. Ask yourself what you want to do, not what you should do. After you have picked 2 or 3 things on your list that make the holidays meaningful for you, prioritize them. Make sure they happen. And then…edit out the rest of the list as painful and as hard as that might be. Strategies for Letting Go Using Positive Discipline Life-skillsPositive Discipline is a practice of using relationship tools and skills that apply to not just the parent/child relationship, but to all relationships in your life. Here’s a list of these tools to aid in creating an enjoyable holiday season. Boundaries: Create boundaries for your family. Practice a kind and firm, “No, but thank you,” attitude when invited to too many evening events that disrupt routines and bedtimes, too many surgery treats that inspire out-of-balance mood swings, or too many miles to travel with travel-challenged children. You are the one who will have to manage the fallout from over-taxing your children, so you get to set the boundaries that work for you. Enjoy the extra fun activities that holidays bring, but give yourself permission to have limits, knowing what is best overall for your children. Empathize: Be prepared that some family members may be disappointed in your choices. Empathize with their wish for you to meet their expectations. There can be pressure to parade your children to all the relatives’ houses who want to see them, to stay up late until a family member arrives at the festivities, or to have your children hug and kiss relatives they barely know. It is often all done out of love. But you do not need to give in to this pressure knowing it will create challenging results. “I know you want us to stay, and I wish we could. We love you all and we need to keep to a healthy sleep schedule for everyone’s peace of mind.” Solutions: Keep a solution mindset. Be flexible, but not so flexible that you lose your healthy boundaries. For example: instead of complying with relatives who want hugs and kisses from your children who are shy or reluctant, offer the idea of blowing kisses from afar or a high five. Instead of staying at family gatherings that are overstimulating for children (who are an easily overstimulated population), go for a limited time and gracefully bow out. Instead of over-extending yourself financially due to gift giving or travel, ask family members to do simple gift exchanges or to invite them to come to you so you can relax in your child-proofed home. Get creative with your solutions; there are so many win-win options for every problem. Self-care: Parenting, like any relationship, includes care of others AND care of the self. Thus, limit your holiday commitments and family activities for your well-being. Create pockets of downtime away from the excitement for your children and yourself. Care of yourself IS care for your familyLess is more during the holiday season. Give your children the gift of low-stress holidays by consciously making choices to create magical and meaningful moments for them to remember all of their lives. Happy (truly happy) Holidays! Colleen Murphy is a credentialed teacher, a Certified Positive Discipline Educator and Trainer at Positive Discipline Community Resouces (www.pdcrcc.org), a parent coach at fromtheheadtotheheart.com, and in healthy relationships with her two grown kids. Want more personal support around the holidays? Join Colleen for the online series Keeping the Joy of Parenting during the Holiday Season. Dec. 6, and 13th. 4 pm-5 pm. Send a message with your name, child(ren) age(s), and city of residence to PDCR’s text-only line to receive a Zoom link or recording if you can’t join live: 831-292-4088. Use this number to request other future free programs, or to request heart-to-heart private parent coaching.

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Moment of Gratitude

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 17:35:24 +0000

Wishing you a very healthy and happy holiday season. I want to take a moment of GRATITUDE and Thank you for reading my column this year, I hope you have implemented some of the self-care tips I’ve shared. My goal is to raise awareness to self-care starting in our home. As we get into the moments with family, holiday hustle and all things seasonal – this is a great time for reflection. One of my biggest tips for enhancing wellness is through a gratitude practice. But first, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that there are times where you may find it difficult to harness a gratitude practice. Pain, suffering. Tough times, it can all make the idea of a gratitude practice seem very difficult, yet that is when it is needed most. Having gratitude is NOT meant to be easy. However, it is a practice you can implement daily that will inevitably change your life. Gratitude in and of itself is a frame of mind and you must raise your awareness to it if you want to harness it. You have to consciously say YES to this practice and like building muscle, the more reps you put in, the more gratitude you will have. Here are a few ways you can harvest your gratitude practice now:REFLECT with growth in mind. How has this year shaped you as a parent? What challenges or obstacles have you overcome? Just by raising awareness to your growth is a form of gratitude. How can you reframe these tough times in your life to see the value in them? Get your family involved. At dinner or in the morning, as a family in my house we share something we feel grateful for. Or we do a “rose + thorn” practice – sharing something that we are thankful for and something that was hard for us and we honor both with gratitude. There was a recent study at Stanford University that shared gratitude is linked to better health and lowering stress. (link below for article) Be intentional with your energy and make a point to celebrate life with your family in a way that feels good – not just because you feel pressured. Create your own traditions and if you feel up to it, give back. There are many people struggling this season and maybe you make part of your family gratitude practice is to bring your love to others. Spreading cheer is another form of giving thanks. RADICAL ACCEPTANCE. So much of life is out of our control. The choices we make, reactions or ways we respond to life is what makes the difference. Although times may be difficult, finding a practice in cultivating radical acceptance and being grateful for what you have vs what you don’t. This holiday season try to take space to embrace the tiny beautiful moments in your day – maybe a laugh with a loved one, or the scent of a beautiful pine tree – gratitude comes in all sizes and shapes. Try raising more awareness to the small gifts in your life. For many of us the holidays are full of love and cheer, also for many they are stressful and difficult – either way, harnessing a daily gratitude practice will support your overall well-being. It is also helpful in getting a head start on our self-care for the new year. 2024 is just around the corner and I will take some time in these final 2 months to reflect and hold gratitude for the miracles, as well as the mundane moments in life.For what we perceive is what we believe. Share your gratitude practice with us at growing up santa cruz instagram eatingwell.com/practicing-gratitude-linked-to-happiness-better-health-83853 By Jaime McFaden

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The Importance of Supportive Spaces for Queer and Trans Youth

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:52:00 +0000

At age 16 I began questioning my sexual orientation and sought out community to find safe and accepting spaces. Trying to process and better understand my identity was a confusing and isolating experience. In an effort to find support, I began attending weekly queer youth groups at the Diversity Center, which shifted to attending regional youth summits, and then state-wide conferences. In my senior year of high school I began an internship with the Queer Youth Task Force (QYTF) to organize queer social events and a student summit. This activism led to being honored with a Queer Youth Leadership Award and becoming a Equality Scholarship recipient in 2008. When I eventually came out to my family at 17, it was labeled as “just a phase” and I wasn’t taken seriously. Overall, I was fortunate to encounter passivity rather than resistance; as for many LGBTQIA2S+ youth coming out can be challenging. Santa Cruz County has many incredible organizations that uplift queer and trans youth and has taken great strides in creating safe and supportive spaces, but work is always needed to reach youth who don’t feel safe or comfortable expressing their true selves.Having access to safe spaces and uplifting queer and trans youth has fueled my activism. In July 2013 while attending UC Santa Cruz, I reconnected with the QYTF and began writing an email newsletter for the Safe Schools Project called Queer Youth Updates. This newsletter serves as a platform to share local LGBTQIA2S+ youth friendly resources and events in one centralized location. In high school I remember feeling frustrated that there were opportunities to connect with my community and develop leadership skills, but neither I, nor my peers, had the tools to find them all. Queer Youth Updates, a labor of love, has now been a source of visibility to queer and trans youth in Santa Cruz County for over 10 years. If you are interested in receiving the Queer Youth Updates newsletter you can subscribe at QYTF.org. We always welcome new queer and trans youth friendly events, resources, and content. If you have something to share, please email QYUpdates@gmail.com.The holidays can be especially challenging for LGBTQIA2S+ youth as they are often juggling their true identity and the expectations their family has of them, which aren’t always aligned. We’ve shared several wellbeing resources below that you can hopefully also share with the youth in your life. Sarananda S. Osheim (she/her) is a 2008 Harbor High graduate and 2014 UCSC graduate with a B.A. in psychology. Sarananda identifies as queer and writes a monthly newsletter called “Queer Youth Updates” to promote visibility and share resources with local LGBTQIA2S+ youth in Santa Cruz County. Holiday Wellbeing Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth Safe Schools ProjectResources for Queer Youth and Educators in Santa Cruz CountySafeSchoolsProject.org The Trevor ProjectHoliday Self-Care Tips for LGBTQ YouthTheTrevorProject.org/blog/holiday-self-care-tips-for-lgbtq-youth/ GSA NetworkHoliday Self Care TipsGSAnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Journaling-for-Beginners.pdf Journaling for BeginnersGSAnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Journaling-for-Beginners.pdf Emotional Safety PlanGSAnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Wellness-Wednesday-Emotional-Safety-Plan.pdf Imi.guideGuides built for and with LGBTQ+ teens to help you explore your identity and support your mental health.IMI.guide It Gets Better ProjectThe It Gets Better Project’s mission is to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe.ItGetsBetter.org

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Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:38:18 +0000

It’s that time of year again… Nutcracker time! The tune of the “Waltz of the Flowers” plays in department stores and Nutcracker dolls are abundant in holiday displays. What exactly does it take to put on a full scale production of the Nutcracker Ballet year over year? When do preparations begin? We’d like to invite you into the world of Nutcracker. It begins in January and ends in December. Our dancers train year round and Nutcracker is almost a way of life. Over 100 dancers from ages 4 to adult grace the stage and the music of Tchaikovsky’s grand score begins filling our studios in September 1/3 – Costume MadnessIn January it’s about putting away hundreds of costumes, organizing them and getting them cleaned in addition to rearranging our storage unit to make sure everything is accounted for and put away safely for next year. We debrief on how things went, what to keep, what to change and what can be improved for next year. 2/3 – Movie TimeFebruary is a time to share our video with our dancers for a matinee celebration. We had a wonderful professional video made with several cameras. This year we went all out and watched the movie at the movie theater with the whole cast. It was so relaxing to just sit in the audience and not have to worry about anything and eat popcorn! Spring – Focusing on other things (mostly)In the spring we are getting ready for our next big production in June, but are also working on hiring our guest artists, securing the theater, and hiring our stage crew for Nutcracker. 6/3 – Dreaming of Sugar PlumsBy summer the Nutcracker machine is already in motion. We have already hired our lead dancers and guest artists, as well as signed contracts for the rental of the theater, hired our stage crew and reserved important parts of our set that we rent each year. We have already assigned staff to various roles and have posted audition notices. It’s only the beginning of summer but we are already dreaming of sugar plums! 7/3 – 5,000 piecesThe Nutcracker is like a giant puzzle. One of those jigsaw puzzles with 5,000 tiny pieces. Although we have put it together many times before, each year brings with it new challenges. Every year it gets put away, then gets put back together again. That’s part of the fun! Some things have to go back exactly as they were, but every year there are some new pieces and the puzzle gets a little bigger and even more exciting. There is always something new to see, be it costumes, choreography, set pieces, guest artists… even new music. We delight in reimagining the Nutcracker every year. What will we do differently this year? What surprises can we add in? Are we ready to take all the pieces out again and get started? The dancers are already talking about their dream roles and applications for auditions have already been posted. The puzzle box has officially been opened. 8/3 – The Nightmare Before Nutcracker has begunWe have joked around for a long time, “What if the rats win?” This year we are reimagining a bit further and will debut the first ever “Nightmare Before Nutcracker” an original production encompassing all forms of dance on Halloween weekend. What kind of a different experience will Clara have if the Land of Sweets turns Sour? How will she dance with her Nutcracker in the hereafter? The dancers are excited. We have bit off a lot with the start of the new season, a full Nutcracker ahead of us and now a new spooky Nutcracker to add to the fun. This is an amazing group of performers and the stage is where they feel most at home. This is going to be extra fun and we must be super organized to pull it off. 9/3 – Audition BuzzAuditions were all day on August 26th and a buzz of excitement filled the studios. Measurements and headshots were taken for each dancer from ages four through adult. Each auditioned in their separate time slots. We look for professionalism even from the youngest dancers. Can they handle themselves in rehearsals and backstage? Will they be able to listen and follow directions well? Will they remember their choreography and be able to be brave and enjoy being on stage? From the older dancers we are looking for technical ability, musicality and artistic expression, as well as strength en pointe. What will be the best roles to challenge dancers safely and also be most suitable for the audience to enjoy? These are the questions we answer in the process of casting which is a full time job for several weeks, complete with sleepless nights. It is a domino effect. If one part changes, it changes everything. This is the worst part of the nightmare especially as pleasing everyone is a hopeless job. Usually only one dancer can be Clara. Sometimes we have two dancers share the role. This year, we have 3 Clara’s sharing the role! We have only done this once before. They are each unique and fabulous. Sometimes it is just too difficult to pick one. We can’t wait to see what each unique Clara brings to the stage and all of the dancers in their roles. 10/3 – The Tale of Two NutcrackersRehearsals have been well underway since September and this is the month of our Nightmare Halloween Nutcracker as well as the beginning of our marketing campaign for the actual Nutcracker. Tickets are now on sale! October is busy with costume fittings and alterations. This is the month to organize an army of volunteers. Seems like a crazy time for another show but everyone is excited to wear black lipstick, light up skeleton masks, pumpkin heads and all kinds of other fun Halloween accouterments on stage. Everyone is having a lot of fun preparing for two Nutcrackers. Not sure how this is even possible… 11/3 – Sunny Side Up!Watching the sun come up… As the sun comes up every day, it reminds me how the Nutcracker Ballet is performed every holiday season all across the country and throughout the world. For Santa Cruz City Ballet at the International Academy of Dance, it has been 15 years of Nutcracker. Many more if you count our first production here in Santa Cruz (co-Directors: Shannon Chipman & Vicki Bergland) as Snow Queen and Co-Director in 1988. With October over, there is a heightened emphasis on the looming deadline of showtime in December. The stockings are up in the neighborhood coffee shop, most of the pumpkins are out of sight and even on this lovely autumn morning, the holidays are fast approaching like a flock of seagulls to the sand. November is go-time! Now with the Nightmare behind us, we can focus on the dream ahead and get back to the Land of Sweets..This will be a busy month of rehearsals, alterations and preparations all leading up to next month and the Magic! Thanksgiving – ThankfulThankful for the opportunity to put on the Nutcracker again at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater the weekend before Christmas! We used to put on the Nutcracker on Thanksgiving weekend. We love that it is closer to the holiday season now and we have even more time to prepare. We are so grateful for our incredible team from the youngest dancers to the most amazing parent volunteers and our incredible staff! After this weekend it’s off to the races. It will be a marathon to the finish line, but we feel well underway with what feels like everything ready to go for December. It all happens so fast now, just two weekends until we’re in the theater! December – Go Time to Showtime… yet to be written (but follow the story online) – Experience the Magic and bring your magic! You, the audience, are there in your seats for one or more of our four performances of the Nutcracker on Saturday and Sunday 12/16 & 12/17 at 1 & 4:30pm. We can’t wait to share it with you and show you what we have been working on all year! By Shannon Chipman

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