Local 10-year-old giddy over upcoming 'Nutcracker' role
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

HER ABILITY IS NO STRETCH- Emily Hogan of Calabasas prepares to take on the role of Clara in Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" which will run from Nov. 30 through Dec. 9 at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park.

As the end of the month approaches, it's no surprise that 10yearold Emily Hogan is becoming more and more excited, if not a bit anxious.

Emily, who lives in Calabasas with her parents and older sister, is to dance the role of Clara in the RozannZimmerman Ballet Center's production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."

The show begins Nov. 30 at the Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park and continues on weekends through Dec. 9.

Patti Davis, the center's owner for nearly 20 years, is a former American Ballet Theatre dancer.

"She's one of those natural little talents," Davis said of Emily. "She has the instrument for it, and she certainly has the obsessive brain for it. She's perfect for Clara."

Emily goes to dance class four days a week and has been rehearsing four to six hours on Saturdays for the big performance.

"I actually did 'The Nutcracker' last year too," said Emily, who played a variety of smaller parts. "This is a lot more work."

Rozann-Zimmerman is one of the few ballet companies that put on two weekends of performances.

"The children in the cast all switch parts," Davis said. "Everybody gets a chance to do something different; everybody moves around. It makes my life really crazy, but it's good for the dancers."

Despite the fact that she's only in fifth grade, Emily has been dancing for five years and takes private classes with Davis.

"I started in kindergarten," Emily said. "My mom thought it was something I could do for fun. I thought it was really fun. Then I got more serious about it."

Recently Emily has taken a much anticipated step up. She began dancing en pointe (in toe shoes) two months ago.

"It's a lot harder and my toes hurt all the time," said Emily. But that won't stop her from perfecting the technique for the upcoming performances. "I'll do Clara en pointe if I'm strong enough. . . . No, I definitely am going to."

Rozann-Zimmerman Ballet Center in Chatsworth is nearly 60 years old. Patti and her husband, Patrick Frantz, formerly of the Paris Opera, have owned the center for the last 18 years. They put on their first Nutcracker performance 10 years ago.

"December was such an awful month for tuition because we were closed for some time for the holiday," Davis said. "To get a little more income we did a 'Reader's Digest' version of 'The Nutcracker.' It started in the studio, but it grew so much we had to move into a theater. Now it's a fulllength production with two professional dancers brought in."

There are about 175 dancers at the center. Davis said there would probably be more if the center took its dancers to competitions.

"We don't do competitions," Davis said. "I don't understand the competition mentality. I really still believe that dance is an art, not a sport."

Heidi Hogan, Emily's mom, takes Emily to the studio in Chatsworth because of its reputation.

"There are a limited number of serious classical ballet studios in the Valley," Hogan said. "This is one of them."

Performance dates are Fri., Nov. 30 at 8 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 1 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 8 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sun., Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Emily shares the role of Clara with two other girls. She will perform at the Nov. 30, Dec. 2 and the 8 p.m. Dec. 8 shows.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students and can be purchased from the box office at (818) 347-9938 or online at the website www.culturela.org/ madridtheatre/. The Madrid Theatre is at 21622 Sherman Way in Canoga Park.

For more information on the Rozann-Zimmerman Ballet Center, visit the website at www.rzballetcenter.com or call (818) 341-0525.