Dancing Through the Snow: Freshman Macy Crosser’s love for ballet has led her to performing for the fourth time in ‘The Nutcracker’

In front of the candle-lit Christmas tree, her red-accented gold dress sways as the stage lights reflect its metallic shimmer. She literally sparkles as she sashays across the stage. She’s captivated when the toys come to life, in awe when Clara is given the iconic nutcracker and as she points her toe towards the audience and waits for the music’s cue to start dancing, one thing becomes evident — freshman Macy Crosser is living her dream.

For four years now, Macy has appeared in Kansas City Ballet’s annual performance, “The Nutcracker,” and this year she is featured as a party girl and a matryoshka child. Despite burning through a pair of pointe shoes every three to four weeks and going to physical therapy for her strained hip flexor, the unparalleled passion that overcomes her when she’s practicing pirouettes or going through the ballet positions makes it all worth it.

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It’s the sophistication. The elegance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on pointe. The magic and voiceless grace that accompanies every step, sway, twirl and leap. To Macy, “The Nutcracker” is different from the loose freestyle of hip hop and the originality of contemporary — it’s perfection. Every movement, finger and expression has a place. That’s why she loves it. 

She’s loved it since her mom first took her to see the show when she was five. Macy left the theatre with one response — “I’m going to be in ‘The Nutcracker’” — and she said it every year until her debut in sixth grade as a lamb.

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“I’ll see these little girls watching me and it just takes me back in time to when I was one of those little girls,” Macy said. “I just love being a role model to them.”

Macy knows the importance of having someone to look up to — it’s a glimpse at what ballet looks like further down the road. When the shepherd dancers from the company guided her through her lamb choreography — her hops and tail wiggles — she experienced working with professionals first-hand. She saw their dedication and passion for the art, the peace and serenity they had in each stroke. 

“At such a young age, it was just cool to be with those people who are really inspired by dance and it was a good opportunity for me to be around them and see what they do,” Macy said.

Macy is no stranger to ballet’s commitment — especially during nutcracker season. The weekend before “The Nutcracker’s” opening night, she spends 20 hours running through the show, squeezing in honors homework during car rides to and from rehearsals.

“I think it’s such a commitment to be at the level that she’s at and to spend that many hours there,” Macy’s mom, April Crosser, said. “Which means less time doing things a lot of normal teenagers do on the weekends and in their free time. You know, she’s at the ballet, but she just loves it so much that it’s worth it.”

One of the biggest things April is proud of Macy for is finding balance — making it work to do what she loves. And if anyone knows how much she loves performing in “The Nutcracker,” it’s her mom. 

Macy’s determination to make her role the best it can be is what leaves her mom smiling in the audience. She’s made their tradition even more special for April. She’s no longer going for the delicate dance or the symphonic music. She’s going for her daughter.

And they celebrate her performance the same way each year — picking out a nutcracker as memorabilia for their nutcracker endeavors. On the bottom reads the year, and for the last four, Macy’s role in the show.

The mantel above their fireplace is now decorated in nutcrackers full of nostalgic memories of their times at the show. She has a golfer, a shopper, ones that have hats with penguins and a snowman. Like snowflakes, no two are alike — especially the snowflake nutcracker. 

This year’s nutcracker? A soldier with a sword in hand and a red-buttoned, blue uniform coated with glitter to match his tall, rounded hat that’s pouring out a lion’s mane of white hair. It’s not another novelty item, it’s 10 years of tradition.

“I love how I went with my mom every year as a tradition,” Macy said. “And I love the chance to be a part of other people’s traditions now. My Christmas holiday season would not be the same without it.”

Macy doesn’t get nervous — just excited. It’s an antagonizing year-long wait for nutcracker season, but the moment she’s reunited with the stage, she’s back where she belongs.

“I just see such joy,” April said. “She just has the hugest smile on her face when she’s on stage and she has just amazing stage presence to me. You can just tell she loves it so much when she’s on the stage and all the hours and all the things she’s given up are worth it because she’s getting to live out a dream of hers.”

And for those 13 nights, just like Clara, she lives out her dream.