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Q&A With "Spectacular's" Clara

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By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2007

TAMPA The "Radio City Christmas Spectacular," starring the eye-high kicks of the Rockettes, returns to Tampa for 52 performances. A holiday staple since 1933, the production features nearly 100 cast members performing famed numbers "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "The Living Nativity" and "The 12 Days of Christmas."

Helping in the holiday cheer is St. Petersburg's very own dancer with heart, 12-year-old Alexis Rosenthal. The soft-spoken fifth-grader will get her big break as Clara in the "Nutcracker" segment of the production. She talks about her new role and ballet.

Q. Where were you when you found that you got the part?

A. I was actually at school in my second-period class … I had already finished my work, and I was reading. I got a note and it said go to my grade-level office. I was told that I had a phone call; it was Mom, and she screamed that I got the part of Clara, and I was jumping up and down. I wanted to scream really badly but I was in the principal's office. But as soon I got in the car, me and my mom started screaming. (laughs)

Q. What is the story of Clara?

A. She has been given a nutcracker and it comes to life and takes her on all these adventures, and he turns out to be a prince. I am doing the part where the nutcracker is given to her.

Q. Why is ballet your favorite kind of dance?

A. That's the dance that I originally started out doing, and I just started to love it so much and it became a huge part of my life … I like it all actually; I like being able to do all of the movements and to dress up and become the different characters. You have to make the audience believe that you are them.

Q. Do you ever get nervous performing?

A.
Q. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A. I would like to continue dancing for as long as I am possible. This is my sixth year doing "Nutcracker"; I really like it, and I like all of the performances. They're all just so beautiful. I mostly like the traditional ones, like "Sleeping Beauty" and "Swan Lake" … I would kind of like to go off to a ballet school when I get older, but I definitely know I want to be in a company.

Q. How to find the time to dance?

A. I do usually have late nights because of it, but it all works out in the end. I'm willing to stay up a couple extra hours, so I can do what I love.

Sarah Hoye

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radio city christmas • parade of the wooden soldiers • living nativity • nutcracker segment • holiday cheer • 12 days of christmas • high kicks • days of christmas • rockettes • fifth grader • period class • cast members • second period • rosenthal • staple • alexis • laughs • ballet • phone call • dancer

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