Being a dancer seems like it would be a daunting responsibility, right? All the choreography you would have to remember would have my head spinning. Is there such a girl who could master these skills? Yes, there is.
Behind the Scenes of The Nutcracker
Meet Yuna Lee, a 16-year-old ballet dancer at Nevada Ballet Theatre.
Yuna has performed in many productions, such as Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, but her all-time favorite is The Nutcracker, a production she has been a part of since age 10.
“I really love it because of the tradition,” she said.
This year, she plays a doll and Mother Ginger in the production, but hopes to one day play the lead role of Clara.
“If I could be in any production, though, I’d definitely want to be in Romeo and Juliet or Swan Lake. They both have such pretty music,” she added.
As a young child, she immediately fell in love with the art of dance and has been training since she was only 2 years old. She began to hone her ballet skills at age 8. Family and mentors have been her inspiration.
“My mom and teachers have always been there, constantly encouraging me,” she recalled.
Yuna’s proudest achievement as a dancer occurred two years ago when she received the Nancy Houssels Scholarship. This scholarship is exclusive to only one dancer, and covers full tuition. When it was announced she won, Yuna knew that, out of all the dancers at the theatre, she was the one nominated and ultimately chosen.
“It was definitely really grand! I was so proud,” she recounted, grinning from ear to ear.
This scholarship helps her achieve her dreams.
“My future goals are just to keep pushing and to keep exploring. I think that there’s no real stop to dance. You just… keep going, becoming better and better,” she explained. She wants to continue to grow as a dancer and travels to Japan every summer to practice ballet to keep her skills razor sharp.
Yuna’s favorite part of dancing is the fact that it is her creative outlet. She feels that dance is the one place where she can truly express herself.
“I just find ballet so freeing. Like, as soon as I get out of school, I get to come here and just get rid of all the thoughts in my head,” the junior in high school said. Dance helps to clear her mind of stress at school.
Even though Yuna loves dancing, ballet is just a passionate hobby for her. “I don’t think I want to be a professional dancer. I honestly was thinking of becoming a children’s psychologist,” she admitted. Yuna says she wants to be a psychologist since she absolutely adores kids and frequently assists with the younger students at the Nevada Ballet Theatre.
Yuna is also extremely excited for the theatre’s production of The Nutcracker. She says that the thing that she is most looking forward to is tech week, which is when all the main rehearsals happen.
“It’s just so chaotic and packed, and everything’s a mess, but it’s absolutely perfect. You get to see all the costumes, the lights, and the sets for the first time all year, and it’s so exciting!” she said. Even though the Nevada Ballet Theatre performs The Nutcracker every year, every time the costumes come out, it is like she gets to experience it for the first time all over again.
Her advice for kids who dream to be onstage?
“You just… go for it. I say that you should definitely know what you’re getting yourself into. Ballet is hard and is not for the weak. There’s going to be a lot of discipline, and you’re going to need all the strength you can get. I think, honestly, you really just got to go for it. Like, ballet is also really fun. If it’s something you really want to try, then just do it.”
Keep shining bright, Las Vegas!
