The heroic Nutcracker is battling a lot more than the Mouse King this year.
With the local and long-running Dancers Studio Inc., he’s also fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
And while the virus has shut down planned in-person Columbus performances of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” the seasonal production is valiantly winning the war for an online show from the troupe to be taped Dec. 19 — with no audience — at the state-of-the-art Brown County Music Center in Nashville for an upcoming virtual showing.
Behind much of the fictitious character’s fight is a very real, first-time, determined director and veteran dancer named Stacie Woempner.
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The 26-year-old Morgantown native, resident, and alumnus of the professional Fort Wayne Ballet, where she danced in the Tchaikovsky staple for four years, is bringing a wealth of energy, more and updated set pieces and an enthusiasm as wild as little Clara’s Christmas Eve reverie.
“I definitely have a very, very big vision and a huge dream,” said Woempner, a dancer since age 3. “I know that a production like this is obviously about a lot more than choreography.”
Woempner knows in part because she did the choreography for the local show in 2018 and also some in 2019.
She also knows because costumer Susannah Lipinski’s work has garnered superlatives for years now; even from people who have seen their share of professional productions.
“Something that is this big of a story line-oriented ballet has to be properly up to scale,” Woempner said of the efforts of all the studio’s team.
Her earliest mentors and instructors inspired her, including those with Indianapolis’ Dance Kaleidoscope.
“I quickly saw that, no matter where we are in life, dance can be something that pulls us together,” she said.
So therein lies one of Woempner’s hopes for the upcoming show with a total cast of nearly 100. She feels the community needs “The Nutcracker” now as much as ever during a time in which the dreamy and fanciful and creative seemingly have given way to an excess of cold, painful reality.
“I feel like that we do (matter),” she said. “I believe that we are so attracted to art.
“ … We’re also doing everything we can especially for the young dancers; to keep their dreams alive. And I don’t believe that dance ever will truly fade.”
Woempner believes that entertainment, if done safely and responsibly right now, can serve as a comfort and more.
“I think this does give families a sense of escape,” she said. “It definitely can sweep you off your feet.”
Longtime local dancer, choreographer and director Alma Wiley, who co-founded Dancers Studio Inc., is already a fan of Woempner. Wiley stopped by the studio a few weeks ago to visit with her.
“You can clearly tell that she’s got the passion and the enthusiasm for all this,” Wiley said, acknowledging that it takes a special person to push through so many obstacles posed by the pandemic and masks and such. “And she also has a passion for students.”
Woempner has taught for seven years at more than five different studios. Now, she’s committed to one.
“It’s a really good feeling to make this studio my second home,” she said.
She seems to readily understand that the studio and its board places her into the position of role model, authority figure and also a listening and affirming “big sister” to many of the students, as she put it. She mentioned that she feels grateful to be in a position to coordinate such an elaborate show as this.
“It’s just an incredible experience to be this young,” Woempner said, “with the privilege of being involved in something so big.”
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Who: Stacie Woempner
Age: 26
Born: Morgantown. Also lives there.
Role: Executive and artistic director at the local nonprofit Dancers Studio Inc. in Columbus since January.
Family: Daughter Emma.
With the local Nutcracker: Choreographed both the 2018 and 2019 shows.
Past dance experience: Fort Wayne Ballet and Phoenix Rising Dance Company in Indianapolis.
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