At the age of three I started ballet. I danced at Meyerhofer Academy in Cambridge lead by Miss Lisa for ten years. I learned so many things from that woman. To this day Mum says I remind her of Miss Lisa. My first recital was at Humanities Theatre in Waterloo when I was five, I was a fluffy cloud in our annual recital. This photo & costume are from in my first Solo as “The Clown”. Mum made this entire costume out of a beautiful fabric and we still have it at home.

After five I began competition which sometimes took me out of school to travel with the other kids. I went to NY and Myrtle Beach, SC to Showstopper, the National American Dance Championships and did heaps of competitions in Ontario. I was at the studio several days a week for most of my childhood. I guess that’s where my love for the stage & sequins comes from. (Thanks for that too Mum!)

I’m extremely grateful that Mum kept me in dance even though we had some tough times. I learned heaps from growing up in dance. Tonight, I will be backstage, in costume and part of a show that as a child, I only dreamed of. The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker is Toronto’s favourite holiday tradition and this year the  Ballet celebrates 60 years. With over 340 performances and 814,635 people enjoying it since 1995, the National Ballet’s The Nutcracker has been hailed “the best on the planet”.

Thank you kindly to the National Ballet of Canada for asking me to be part of The Nutcracker. Mum and her BF are coming from out of town to see tonight’s performance. It truly is a dream come true! Sammy and I will be Cannon Dolls and look a little something like this:

Here’s a sneak peek from backstage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts:

I’ll be Tweeting away with excitement tonight so make sure you are following on Twitter. Have an awesome day xo