The current students and a few alumni of The Nutmeg Conservatory performed on the ever-inspiring Inside/Out stage at Jacobs Pillow Wednesday evening in celebration of Nutmeg’s 40th Anniversary. As a 1998 graduate of Nutmeg, I was honored to be asked to take part in the performance.

Lynn and I have been teaching modern dance at Nutmeg this summer, and we have had SUCH a pleasure teaching these students. They have opened up and grown so much in a matter of weeks.

As a Nutmeg graduate, the pride and respect I have for the institution that trained me is, in a word, immeasurable. The faculty, directors, and staff at Nutmeg cultivated, in me, a crazy modern dancer in the midst of a regimented Vaganova syllabus, and fierce focus on pedagogy. Somehow, they allowed me the freedom to explore while maintaining every inch of the discipline and attention to detail that was demanded of us as students.
Today a new crop of Nutmeg dancers is blossoming, and I believe the institution itself is blossoming as well. In the ways that the world we now live in needs it to. It is an instutution that has earned respect through detailed and careful teaching, communicative and educated staff, and the generous and honest spirit of cultivating the love of the art of dance performance in its students, parents, audiences and general public.

Perhaps it is this honest, earnest, spirit of the joy and legacy of dance, and the desire to share it so richly, that made the connection between Jacobs Pillow and Nutmeg feel so genuine.
Whatever it was, it was felt all around. The staff at Jacob’s Pillow (Ella Baff, Executive Director, and Ginger Menard, Program Manager and the rest of the wonderful staff) warmly welcomed us all.

As anyone who has ever been there can attest to, the magic and inspiration of the Pillow, and the distinct place it holds in the history of dance, hits you immediately. The Ted Shawn Theater, The Ruth St. Denis Studio.. These are more than room names, these are the pioneers of my craft, and to be in that space, in those hills among that legacy, is a feeling I cannot describe. I wondered on the way there if these students from Nutmeg that we had taught all summer would know, would REALIZE, the opportunity that they were being given. To dance at JACOB’S PILLOW in the wide open, with the breeze on their back just feeling the history of all that is around them.
I know they felt it. Something was alive and real inside of them tonight. That light behind their eyes was there. Whether or not they fully understand it now is insigficant.. What matters is that their bodies experienced it and their hearts felt joy.
They danced.
They danced with sun in their eyes and leaves on the stage. With all the beautiful mysteries of an imperfect stage and unpredictable forces of nature. And they were beautiful. More beautiful than I have ever seen them.

Along with the students that performed, I also shared the stage with my fellow Nutmeg Graduates Emily Patterson (Joffrey) and Andrea Spiridonakos (Miami City Ballet). Both have recently left their long tenure with the aforementioned companies, but are sure to find success in their next ventures.
Emily performed a duet alongside dance partner and husband, Thomas Nicholas (Joffrey), a duet choregraphed by current Joffrey dancer, Michael Smith.

They looked phenomenol and Andrea was characteristically exquisite in her variation.
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Lynn and I had a blast dancing our duet “Interlude” in the open air, and felt joy coming at us and beaming from us all evening long.

The staff of Nutmeg is doing a superb job of continuing the traditions that I believe have helped shape the very unique training program it has become. It’s founding Artistic Director, Sharon Dante, carved her dream of a world class school with her bare hands. She has worked her entire life, tooth and nail, to build Nutmeg into what it has become and is no doubt no becoming. The work she has done cannot be measured. To see her stand in the back and just soak in the performance brought me unspeakable joy. Eleanor D’Antuono (Ballet Russe, Joffrey, ABT) returns to Nutmeg year after year because she sees the promise and the “shiny new pennies” that Nutmeg is developing.

Me and Eleanor

Victoria Mazzaerlli (Basel, Frankfurt and Zurich Ballet) graduated Nutmeg, danced professionally in some of the most revered companies in the world and is now back at Nutmeg sharing her talent and impeccable wisdom and grace with these students. Joan Kunsch who continues to demand the focus and attention to detail necessary while respected the individual artists being developed within each of the students. Susan Szabo who guided the kids at that school from the moment they walk through the door with a gentle, clear push and an exuberant attitude. Tim Melady (Miami City Ballet, Ballet Du Nord, Momix) is bringing new and fresh inspiration to the whole program. Ron Alexander, who is now the Principal of Nutmeg, brings his experience from so many professional dance angles (National Ballet of Canada, Frankfurt Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, etc etc) and very seamlessly weaves it into his sharp administrator skills to create a school that is active, engaged and growing.

It was a beautiful day at the Pillow.

Thank You Jacob’s Pillow, and
Thank you Nutmeg.

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