-by Isabel Isselbacher- This year Emily Hoff ’18 will dance as Clara in the Boston Ballet Nutcracker for the third consecutive year.  Here she describes the experience of dancing in such a large role, performing for audiences of over 2,000 and rehearsing up to 30 hours each week.  If you want to see her perform, buy tickets at bostonballet.com for one of the date and times listed below.  Each show is performed at the Boston Opera House for a duration of 2 hours 45 minutes. 

Q: What’s your favorite part about performing in the nutcracker and being in the show?

A: One of my favorite parts about performing in the nutcracker is that I get to know all of the professional dancers. They are all so nice and I learn so much from them. Also, I love everything about performing on stage! My favorite part of the nutcracker is battle scene because I get to partner with Drosselmeier, who is played by a principal dancer, and we do lots of lifts. Also, it is fun to act scared as I’m being chased by the mice.

Q: How much do you have to practice?

A: I practice for twenty to thirty hours each week.

Q: How many performances have you had?

A: I have had 15 shows for the past three years, so I have 45 in total.

Q: How late do you get home every night?

A: I get home at about 9:30 on a normal night, but during rehearsal and performances I get home at 11:30