Ballet buddies

Two Hebron students star in ‘The Nutcracker’

Ashley Davis and Aubry Neal, both 16, have been dancing since the age of 3 and good friends since the age of 5.

These two juniors will be front and center during the upcoming performances of “The Nutcracker” by Chamberlain Performing Arts.

“They are both very similar in personality and characteristics. They are both extremely gifted, very hard working, dedicated, passionate, disciplined, all of the good stuff that goes with being excellent dancers,” said Kathy Chamberlain, founder and director of Chamberlain Performing Arts. “What’s unique is their dancing styles are very different. When they get on stage, the way they express themselves is very unique.”

Ashley will perform the role of the Snow Queen. She’ll also be featured as a Spanish Divert member and a demi-soloist in “The Waltz of the Flowers.” Aubry will be dancing as the lead Arabian, Dew Drop Fairy and as a member of the Snow Corps.

Ashley grew up in Carrollton and currently resides in Castle Hills. She began dancing at age 3 and began attending Chamberlain Performing Arts in Plano at age 6. For the last three summers she has studied at The School of American Ballet, the school for the New York City Ballet.

“My advice for other dancers would be to dance if you really love it and to quit if you don’t, but if you really love what you’re doing, keep going for your dreams and do what you love,” she said.

Aubry grew up and still resides in Carrollton. She also began dancing around the age of three. After attending Dianne Cole Johnson School of Dance in Carrollton for eight years, Aubry switched to Chamberlain where her friend Ashley already danced. Last summer she received scholarship money to study with Miami City Ballet for five weeks.

“My advice to other dancers would be to watch as many videos or recordings of dancers as you can.  Then take the moves or stuff you like about that dancer and try to make it work for you,” she said. “Practice in your room. Turn on your favorite song and just jam out. This gets you used to improvising and it gets you comfortable with what your own body can do.”

In addition to more than 150 dance students from Chamberlain Performing Arts, the ballet will feature SMU student Chris Jarosz as a special guest artist. Jarosz was a top 20 finalist on the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Wendy Whelan and Philip Neal, two principal dancers from the New York City Ballet, will also be featured as guest artists.

“I like the chance to work with professionals to see how they work and how they dance together,” Aubry said.

Performance times are Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $5 to $50 and can be purchased by calling the Eisemann Center ticket office at 972-744-4650 or by going to eisemanncenter.com.

Chamberlain has been performing “The Nutcracker” since 1989.

“For the young children, it’s a wonderful time and exciting. So many young children dream of being a dancer. This gives them a chance to be inspired,” Kathy Chamberlain said. “As the dancers grow, another side of it is the ability of them to build discipline. Many will go on and become professional dancers.”

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