Decades of dance
New Jersey Ballet celebrates its half-century mark this year and Founder and Artistic Director Carolyn Clark has been there every step of the way. A former dancer, Clark is now a legend in the dance world and is still a petite dynamo who makes the Energizer Rabbit look like garden sculpture. We caught up with her at the headquarters of the New Jersey Ballet and the New Jersey School of Ballet just off Route 10 in Livingston.

This season is the New Jersey Ballet’s 38th consecutive year of performing Nutcracker. How do you explain this ballet’s perennial popularity?
It’s every young girl’s dream. She’s the star. It has magic, a wonderful party with presents, a handsome prince, exciting special effects, the triumph of the good guys over the evil mouse king; there’s a fantasy kingdom of sweets and treats that come alive, plus beautiful music and great dancing. It’s the perfect holiday entertainment.

Of all the Nutcrackers performed each year, what makes yours special?
The New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker is very traditional. It appeals to a broad spectrum of people. Our choreographers have developed a fast-paced way of telling the story, so it never drags. Ours is a big production with 80 to 100 cast members, lots of fancy scenery, gorgeous costumes and special effects. Each year we hire a huge semi and a driver and truck the whole thing from Englewood to Cape May before we settle in at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn for 14 more performances.

We staged our first Nutcracker in 1971 at the Paper Mill, so we’re the longest running professional production in New Jersey. Many people who saw the original show now bring their children and grandchildren. We always perform it with a full, live orchestra. No recordings, ever. And Nutcracker has lots of roles for our young students, which appeals to children.

Read the entire interview in the November/December issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine. Click here to get one free bonus issue and save more than 80% on a subscription.