ONEONTA – Though her studio is no longer in Norwich, ballet teacher Donna Decker retains fond memories of the many students and their families whom she grew to know during her more than 31 years here.
To commemorate the past - and to celebrate 20 years of performing Tchiakovsky’s classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker - Decker has invited all dancers from the area who have danced in the annual show to a special reunion performance.
More than 300 invitations have been mailed out to alumni. They have been invited to be honored at a reception prior to The Decker School of Ballet’s annual holiday performance at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22 on the Goodrich Theater stage at SUNY Oneonta. The Nutcracker will also come to life at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 and also at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Over the years, nearly 400 students and adults have danced The Nutcracker for Decker in what has become a holiday tradition both in the region and throughout the world. Many of her ballet students started out as gnomes and soldiers or mice, and later became corps members, demi solos and, later, solo dancers.
Decker said she has located all but two dancers who played the coveted role of “Clara.” Both trained at the Norwich studio: Nell Moore and Erin Snay. About 18 other former dancers are also not found. Any dancer who has not received an invitation may do so by calling the studio at 432-6290.
“As the alumni responses are coming in, I am flooded with memories of all these students and the special moments we shared together,” Decker said.
Lauren Turrell and her mother Rhonda of North Norwich plan to return for the anniversary performance. Lauren, who is a college student and a member of the dance club at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, began dancing for Decker at the age of 4. She traveled to Oneonta when Decker moved her studio there in the late 1990s, and completed her “Nut” career at 18, performing the Spanish solo.
Rhonda, who sewed costumes for Decker, said she and her daughter were both looking forward to the event.
“Donna is a very special friend. We have know her for a long time. She was a true professional and expected good quality from the girls. My daughter learned a lot more than art from her.”
“This is a phenomenal family history celebration for Donna. This is her heritage,” Turrell said.
Decker is a descendant of the famed Fokine ballet family. Her great-uncle, Michael Fokine, is the celebrated father of contemporary ballet, who created Petrouchka, The Firebird, Les Sylphides and The Dying Swan. Her grandmother, Alex-andra Fedorova, studied at the famous Mariinsky Theater School in St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon graduation from the school, Madame Fedorova performed with Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky in the Imperial Theater, today the Kirov Ballet.
Decker’s mother, Irine Fokine, opened her school in Ridgewood, N.J. in 1950 and still teaches today. She is the artistic director of the Irine Fokine Ballet.
For this year’s show, the three childrens’ leading roles were awarded to Bethany Washburn, Griffin Rule and Evan Clark. Bethany Washburn, a sixth grader in the Laurens Central School, won the coveted role of Clara. Griffin Rule, a sixth grader at Greater Plains School in Oneonta, is playing the role of Clara’s naughty brother, Fritz. Evan Clark, a seventh grader at the Delhi Central School, will dance the title role of the Nutcracker.
Tickets are available at First Edition Bookstore in Norwich, Auger’s Bookstore in Cooperstown, the in Sidney, Delhi, and The Eighth Note, The Marketplace on Chestnut and Decker School of Ballet, all in Oneonta. For ticket information, call 432-6290.
Decker said she has no plans on retirement. “As long as I can walk up to my third floor studio, I will continue teaching and producing Nut. ... I feel like a piker just celebrating 20 years of Nutting. My mom is celebrating her 50th year this December.”