FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mairi Bell rehearses for her plum role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker."
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‘My life revolves around ballet’
Mairi Bell can't imagine a life without ballet. She travels abroad participating in national and international ballet competitions from New York City to Bulgaria and the Ukraine.
'The Nutcracker'
Performed by Hawaii State Ballet:
On stage: Friday through Dec. 17, with performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Place: Mamiya Theatre
Tickets: $16 to $27
Call: 550-8457 or visit hawaiistateballet.com
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Bell, a senior at La Pietra, plans a career in professional ballet. But first she dances the showcase role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Hawaii State Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker."
The cast, made up entirely of Hawaii State Ballet students, presents the traditional "Nutcracker" with music by Tchaikovsky and all the dancing candy canes, flowers, life-size mice and toy soldiers.
Bell maintains a rigorous 20-hour-per-week rehearsal schedule. "La Pietra has been so supportive, giving me lots of flexibility in turning in assignments and letting me attend classes around my ballet schedule," she said. "I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I'm doing my homework during lunch, while everyone else is fooling around."
She is trained by John Landovsky, the Latvian-born director who has worked with several local dancers who have pursued professional careers. Among them are Amanda Schull, who starred in the movie "Center Stage"; Romi Beppu, who danced two seasons with the American Ballet Theatre in New York and is now in her sixth season with the Boston Ballet, and Elizabeth Mertz, who won the bronze medal for the United States at the 1995 International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland.
Landovsky said the best of Hawaii State Ballet's dancers were selected for "The Nutcracker." "The dancers from the junior company are quite capable of doing what they are doing," he said. "They all have a future ahead of them."
Bell looks forward to the same opportunities. She said, "My life revolves around ballet and that is just fine with me."
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii State Ballet dancers ready themselves for the holiday ballet, which begins Friday and runs through Dec. 17 at Mamiya Theatre.
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COMING UP
Ballet Hawaii's "Nutcracker"
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On stage: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16; 2 p.m. Dec. 17; Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Featuring: Music by the Honolulu Symphony. Starring Joaquin de Luz and Megan Fairchild of the New York City Ballet and Sasha Radetsky and Stella Abrena of American Ballet Theatre.
» Tickets: $25 to $75, at Blaisdell Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets. Call (877) 750-4400 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Nutcracker Gala:
» Preshow dinner Dec. 15 on the Blaisdell lawn, catered by Compadres Bar & Grill, Shanghai Bistro, Hong Kong Harbor View Seafood Restaurant, 3660 on the Rise, Romano's Macaroni Grill and Duc's Bistro. Cost is $150. Call 521-8600.