A Day In The Life Of A Queensland Ballet Soloist Preparing For The Nutcracker
Toi, toi, toi!
In Brisbane, December doesn’t arrive with snowfall – it sweeps in with sunshine, long days, and an annual invitation to slip into a warmer, dreamier world.
Offering the perfect escape? Queensland Ballet’s The Nutcracker, which returns to the stage this month. This festive favourite is back for its final season, ready to enchant audiences with the Christmas classic they’ve come to adore. Featuring Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, this cherished Queensland Ballet tradition marks its thirteenth and last year.
A quick lowdown
Following a young Clara and Fritz as they unwrap new toys on Christmas Eve, a visit from the mysterious Dr Drosselmeyer quickly sends the evening spinning. When the clock strikes twelve, nothing is as it seems and Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are whisked away across a Lemonade Sea to the Kingdom of Sweets for a midnight adventure filled with beloved characters, including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Mother Ginger, and more.
Running from 5 December to 13 December, this is your final chance to experience the magic, nostalgia, and wonder of The Nutcracker as only Queensland Ballet can present it — a sparkling escape into the spirit of Christmas.
A day in the life of Senior Soloist Chiara Gonzalez (AKA the Sugar Plum Fairy)
Front and centre in this year’s spellbinding escape is Chiara Gonzalez, the Queensland ballerina whose presence is as poised as her port de bras. She’s one of the rare dancers who has lived both sides of the Nutcracker fairytale: first as Clara, the curious girl pulled into a world of wonder, and now as the Sugar Plum Fairy, the glittering heartbeat of Act II.
Follow her from the quiet ritual of her morning coffee to the glow of her afternoon rehearsal, moving through sunlit studios and tulle-laced moments of magic. This is a day in the life of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
9 AM: Arrive at work
“I arrive at the Thomas Dixon Centre in West End, and pop into Tom’s Kitchen for my morning fix – an oat latte.”
9.30 AM: Warming up
“At this time. I will start warming up for daily class, which we do every day from 10am to 11.30am. Class gets our bodies ready but, more importantly, it’s where we refine our technique. Some days it’s tough and absolutely exhausting, but if you skip it, you feel it immediately.”
10.30 AM: Class
“After barre work, which lasts around 35 minutes, we move to the centre of the studio and practise adagio, pirouettes, and jumps.”
11.30 – 11.45 AM: Preparing pointe shoes
“Preparing my pointe shoes for my rehearsal of the Sugar Plum Fairy pas de deux with my partner, Edison Manuel. All female dancers must prepare their pointe shoes for every rehearsal and performance – a relentless, time-consuming task that takes about an hour each day. Only female dancers dance en pointe, balancing and performing on the very tips of their toes.”
11.45 – 12.45 PM: Rehearsing for The Nutcracker
“Rehearsing with Edison for the leading roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Prince. He’s an exceptional partner who makes me feel completely safe and supported in every lift and pirouette.”
12.45 – 1.45 PM: Stretching and lunch
“More stretching and a bite to eat for lunch. Dancers not only have to be flexible, but strong – it’s a fine line to tread (dance!). At the Thomas Dixon Centre, we have physios, Pilates, and gym equipment to make sure we’re in optimal form for each season.”
1.45 – 2.15 PM: Costume fitting
“Costume fitting for the Sugar Plum Fairy, which is always a special moment. Our costumes are reused each year, so each season we have fittings to ensure every detail sits perfectly and the headdress is secure for performances. For each show, we have a dresser who helps us do up the hooks and eyes of our tutus.”
2.45 – 4 PM: More pointe shoe prep
“Preparing more shoes for ongoing rehearsals and performances.”
4 – 6 PM: Getting ready
“Time to start getting ready for the performance! Dancers do all their own hair and makeup. The Costume Department gives us detailed drawings of the exact look, and we follow them to make sure everything is stage-perfect.”
Toi, toi, toi!
“A German expression performers use to wish each other luck – it’s actually bad luck to say “good luck” to a fellow performer!”
Want to capture the magic of this Christmas classic? Tickets are available for purchase here.
Imagery: Angharad Gladding / David Kelly
