I thought it might be interesting for you to know about Cati Snarr and what she does to make the Nutcracker children so magnificent.

Cati Snarr

Mark:  Will you tell us a bit about your backround?

Cati:  I started dancing in SLC, with The Ballet West Christensen Academy. I started dancing in Ballet West’s Nutcracker when I was 10.  I studied ballet under Mr. C, Tenley Taylor, Elaine Thomas, Petrus Boseman, Denise Schultz and Louis Godfrey.  I began dancing with Ballet West when I was 15 and performed with them for 5 years under Bruce Marks and John Hart.  I left Ballet West to pursue other performing interests from 1989-2002.  I returned to Ballet West in 2002 after choreographing the Olympics and started to teach in the Education Program while doing free lance choreography. In 2003-2004 I began teaching in the BWA.

Mark:  How did you get started as Children’s Ballet Mistress for Ballet West?

Cati:  In 2004 I assisted Jane Wood Smith with the Nutcracker Kids and 2005 took over as the Children’s Ballet Mistress.  I have worked with the kids for 6 years.

Mark:  How many children are in Ballet West’s production of  The Nutcracker?

Cati:  There are 280 children in the Nutcracker divided into 4 casts of 70 children each.  We began rehearsals Sept. 14th. The kids get 11 weeks of rehearsals before the 1st cast begins performances.  Each cast rehearses 2-3 times a week. This process is assisted by Heather Thackeray and Lisa Hoyt who are experienced and talented.

Mark:  Is Children’s Ballet Mistress your only function at Ballet West?

Cati:  Besides the Nutcracker,  I also teach for Ballet West in the Education Outreach Program I CAN DO,  BW for Kids in the Schools and Ballet West Academy as well as continue to freelance when I can.

Mark:  Thanks Cati!  I think the Nutcracker children this year are the best ever!

-Mark