"I love going to The Dance Connection and working with The New Jersey Youth Ballet because it's so much fun and all the teachers there are so nice. I also like doing The Nutcracker. This year I will be a Soldier and dancing in Arabian."

- Alexandra

This year Carolyn will be dancing as a chef in Mother Ginger and as a party girl in act 1.

“I have been dancing since I was 4 years old. I enjoy dancing in The Nutcracker. This year my roles are a Girl in the Party Scene and I am also in Chinese and Waltz" of the Flowers.”

-Chayanna

"I have been dancing with my twin sister, Leigh for the past 12 years. I have been dancing in The Nutcracker for 5 years. Some roles I have enjoyed are Soldier Doll, and this year I am the Ballerina Doll. I am also in Snow, Waltz of the Flowers and Marzipan. I was also Sebastian in The Little Mermaid."

-Dana

"I am 15 years old and have been dancing since I was 4. I have danced in The Nutcracker for the past 5 years. My favorite roles have been Ballerina Doll and Spanish Chocolate. This year I am in Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, and Spanish. I have attended The Dance Connection and been a involved with The New Jersey Youth Ballet all of my life."

- Elyse

This year Emily will dance in Marzipan and be a party girl in act 1.

"I have been dancing for eight years, and this is my fifth year in The Nutcracker.  I'm in the Party Scene, Russian and the Waltz of the Flowers.  I enjoy dancing:  ballet and hip-hop are my favorites.  I love dance, and I get to hang out with my friends at the same time! I am in 5th grade at Immaculate Conception SchooI in Somerville.  In my free time, I spend time with my family (especially my little sister Julia), horse-back ride, swim in my pool, talk on the phone with my BFFs, cheerlead and play trumpet for my school.   I collect zebras and horses.  A favorite is torturing my 2 brothers into coming see me in The Nutcracker and recitals every year -- payback for all the games I've watched over the years!"

-Emma

"I like doing Nutcracker because I get to try out for new parts each year.  Each year the parts get more challenging and help me to learn new steps.  It's also a fun experience to be able to dance with my friends. This year I am playing Clara!"

-Emma

This year Gianna will be in the Russian Dance and is playing a boy in the party scene.

"This year I am a Party Girl and in Mother Ginger"

-Hailey

"I'm sixteen years old and I have been dancing for thirteen years.  This year, my roles in the Nutcracker are: Party Boy, Snow, Chinese, and Waltz of the Flowers.  My favorite part of dancing is performing for people, especially in The Nutcracker. Classes also keep me in good shape, help my concentration, and help me relieve stress because it's something I really enjoy."

-Jackie

"Hello! My name is Jessica and I’m 15 years old. I have danced for 11 years studying ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern/contemporary, jazz, broadway/ musical theatre, hip-hop, and break dancing. I have been a part of The Dance Connection Dance Team and school for 4 years. This past spring (2009) I participated in the first Dance Connection music video. I have performed with the New Jersey Youth Ballet for seven years in The Nutcracker (Chinese & Dancing Bear solos and lots more), Cinderella (mouse & court attendant), The Little Mermaid(Poor Unfortunate Soul, Urchin), Sleeping Beauty, Dance for the Brook, and Come Dance with Us (Bluebird from Sleeping Beauty and lots more)—the 2009 Nutcracker is my 6th!  “Life is a dance, so dance beautifully.” –Groovaloo"

-Jessica

This year Jordan will be a chef in Mother Ginger and will be a party girl in act 1.

"I have been dancing for four years and this is my second year in The Nutcracker.  I dance in the Party Scene with my sister, Emma, and I am a cook in Mother Ginger.   I am in second grade at Immaculate Conception School, in Somerville.  Along with dancing, I enjoy Brownies, cheerleading, softball and swimming in my pool.  Also, I have a sweet beagle named Bandit -- who loves to greet me when I get home from school and dance!"

-Julia

Juliana will dance in Marzipan this year and will be a boy in act 1.

"I began dancing at the age of 3. This is my 8th year dancing in The Nutcracker. Roles that I have danced in include Clara, Fritz, Waltz of the Flowers, and Russian to name a few. This year will be my first year dancing in Snow and Spanish. I am a freshman in high school and enjoy dancing with my two sisters who are also in the ballet company."

-Lauren

"I have been dancing with my twin sister Dana for the past 12 years at The Dance Connection and with The New Jersey Youth Ballet. I have danced in The Nutcracker for the past 5 years. I have enjoyed roles as Soldier Doll, Fritz, and lead Chinese. This year I am in Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, and Russian."

-Leigh

"This year I am the Maid in Party Scene, in Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, and Russian."

-Lilly

"I like to dance because it's fun and interesting. I couldn't wait to be in The Nutcracker.  It looks fun because there's so many types of dancing and I love to learn different styles."

-Madeline

This year Madison will dance in Mother Ginger and will be a mouse in act 1.

Mariana will dance in Marzipan this year and will be a boy in act 1.

"BEING a part of the NEW JERSEY YOUTH BALLET company is my dream come true! It's been two years now since I joined, but my enthusiasm in every rehearsal and excitement in performances has never dwindled down. Last year I was a mouse and one of Mother Ginger's children in THE NUTCRACKER which was performed at the Kelsey Theater. This year, once again with The Nutcracker, I will be a Chef with Mother Ginger and will be dancing with the dolls. I can't wait to see families and friends watch me perform.

At the DANCE CONNECTION, I learn a lot of dance forms like Hip-Hop, Jazz, and ballet as my favorite...it is so much FUN! 
And to be part of their Dance Competition Team is so exciting!"

-Mikaela

Nicolette is 7 years old and has been dancing since she is 4. She loves to dance, do gymnastics and play with her friends. This is Nicolette's second year in The Nutcracker. She hopes to one day be the role of Clara.

"I started my dance career when I was just 3 years old. In 2004 I began taking Ballet classes at the Dance Connection with “Miss Samantha”. I joined the Ballet Company that year and was cast as a mouse in my very first production of “The Nutcracker”. I have enjoyed participating in our annual Nutcracker productions with the New Jersey Youth Ballet.  Maybe you saw me in the Land of Sweets as a Spanish Chocolate, Russian Candy Cane, Chinese Tea, Waltzing with Flowers or as a Snowflake. My favorite role to date was playing Clara’s older brother, Fritz. I look forward to dancing as a Toy Soldier in this years’ production.  Throughout the years I have studied Jazz, Lyrical and Hip-Hop with a wide variety of experienced and talented teachers however, my favorite form of dance is still Ballet."

-Nora 

"I began dancing at the age of three. At age four I was Toto in the Wizard of Oz, I was on stage for the whole production keeping up with Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. I started dancing in The Nutcracker at the age of 3, as a party girl and in Mother Ginger, this is my 7th year in The Nutcracker. This year I play Fritz, I can’t wait to break the Nutcracker! I am also in Waltz of the Flowers, and Chinese. I dance ballet, jazz, and hip hop, and I am in fifth grade."

-Olivia V.

This year Phoebe will be a chef in Mother Ginger and a party girl in act 1.

"I am 7 years old and have been dancing since I was 3.  This is my 2nd year dancing in The Nutcracker.  I am a 1st grader at Woods Road School in Hillsborough.  Other things I like to do are play piano, sing, play soccer and T-ball, and play with our bunny.  This year I will be dancing as a Chef in Mother Ginger and a Party girl.  I love being in the Nutcracker because it is a lot of fun and I love to sign autographs."

-Sabrina

"I like to dance because it is fun and I have made many friends over the years dancing at The Dance Connection. I also dance in The Nutcracker and this year I have a solo playing the Rag Doll in act 1. In act 2 I am a petal in Waltz of the Flowers. I started dancing ballet and tap at the age of 2. I really enjoy dancing but I also have other hobbies such as swimming, gymnastics, and tennis."

-Samantha

This is Samantha 's second year of Dance.  Her first year she took Tap/Ballet Combo and this year she is focusing on Ballet.  Samantha loves to dance and is excited to participate in The Nutcracker this year as a Mouse and in Mother Ginger.

-Samantha  

This year Shelsea gets to perform the Arabian dance. She also gets to be a soldier in the battle scene.

"This is my 6th year dancing in The Nutcracker, I have been dancing for 8 years.  I am 11 years old and a 6th grader at Auten Road School in Hillsborough.  I love dancing in The Nutcracker because I always have an opportunity to dance a different part, the highlight being the year I was Clara.  I also love performing and working together with friends. This year I am dancing in Party, Marzipan, and Waltz of the Flowers.  This is my first year as a Big Flower and it is very exciting. Best of Luck to the entire cast for a great show!"

-Victoria