Written by Bill Conger.
A DeKalb West School student landed a part with the Nashville Ballet. Blair Gipe, a fifth-grader in Jeanna Caplinger’s homeroom, performed in a production of Nashville’s Nutcracker, in December at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Jackson Hall. During the first act, she played a role as one of the Native Americans in a battle scene.
"She was awesome," says her mother, Janice Penny. "She was very serious as the role required. She takes everything she does seriously and really tries to absorb all instruction and guidance."
Gipe, who has been taking dance since age two, heard about the audition when her mom received an email about the August 21 auditions.
"We are patrons of the Nashville Symphony and Nashville Opera," says Penny. "We get regular emails with events and happenings at TPAC and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Nashville Ballet. We received the email in regards to auditions. She auditioned along with approximately 500 other children."
"When I arrived at the audition, I was really nervous," recalls Gipe. "Now, that may seem normal, but I don’t usually get nervous. At the end of the audition, the instructors sent about six people out of the try-outs. They said, ‘Just because we are sending you out now does not mean you do not get a part.’"
A month later, Blair found out that she secured a role in the production.
"I kept on saying, `Oh, my gosh!’ I was extremely happy, and I kept on squealing."
"I have always wanted Blair to have the confidence to utilize her enormous potential in whatever area that she loves, where she can make a difference in her life and the lives of others," said her mother.
Not only has Blair taken dance, she also had acting lessons at the Nashville Children’s Theatre.
"She has always had no fear, no stage fright, and unbelievable talent of duplicating what she hears and sees within a very short period of time," says Penny. "I feel that the years of dance lessons, acting lessons and our regular visits to the opera, symphony and ballet gave her the confidence to audition and to do an excellent job in this part."
"After about one practice, I made five new friends," Blair says. "We all worked with each other to improve our dance moves, and in the end, I think we did pretty well."
Dress rehearsal was awesome. We got to wear twin braid wigs, leather moccasins, and a leather outfit. I saw the other performers’ outfits too. There were dresses and uniforms."
On opening night, Gipe says she got a case of the jitters, which is unusual for her.
"At the first performance I seemed to get nervous again. It was very odd, but I started to let go of being nervous and had a great time. On stage, I thought my make-up would make me look pale. I also thought about how I was put into the gold cast, and how I was in such a professional performance. After thinking about that, I saw only bright lights, faded colors, my peers, the audience, the Christmas tree, and the nutcracker."
Blair hopes to audition again next year and try out for other productions that are available. After her big debut with the Nashville Ballet, she was invited to take regular dance lessons with the troupe. In January, she began taking lessons a couple days a week.
"These lessons are different than her prior lessons---more technique, difficult, and disciplined," says her mother. "She feels very fortunate to be a part of the Nashville Ballet and hopes to be in many more professional performances."
