UNITY - Two dance students from STAND OUT Dance Collective will be taking to the stage in Saskatoon in Ballet Jörgen’s production of The Nutcracker Nov. 30.
Mikaela Hennings and Raymen Volk were selected from many other students, including dance classmates Polina Chernii and Jasmine Volk, to play two animals in the production. Hennings was cast as a squirrel while Volk was cast as a bear cub.
All four of the SODC students heard about the opportunity through various advertisements from the ballet company. Chernii and Hennings have both performed with the more well-known companies in the past as well, Chernii with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hennings with Ballet Jörgen. Both dancers enjoyed the experience and were eager to audition again.
Volk, who is new to the larger stages, is eight years old and is the son of Shaun and Rajbir Volk. He trains weekly at SODC in ballet, tap, hip-hop, lyrical and acrobatics. He is also attending rehearsals for the production every Sunday until they perform at TCU Place Nov. 30.
Hennings, who will be 12 years old in a week, is the daughter of Gary and Arisa Hennings. She also trains in ballet, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, acrobatics and contemporary. Hennings was part of Ballet Jörgen’s production of Anne of Green Gables in Lloydminster, Alta.
“Everyone at SODC is overjoyed to have two of our very own in the production. We are so proud of them for taking this amazing opportunity and we will be cheering them on every step of the way. We cannot wait to see them perform,” said dance studio owner and instructor, Courtney Smith.
