In the dance world, entering training as young as 6 years old can be considered a “late start.” Claire Wessells, though, disproves that. As a high schooler, she has a position at BalletMet which is a full-time profession for her 20-year-old counterparts.
She has been immersed in the ballet world for 10 years, consistently devoted to her training at BalletMet.
“I started [because] I would always perform in my living room when I was little,” Wessells said. “I guess [my mom] didn’t realize how much I would like it, and [I’ve] been going there ever since.”
At age 10, Wessells went on pointe and now flies through pairs of shoes.
“Typically, my pointe shoes were lasting me two to three weeks [per] pair,” she said.
This year, though, she’s been dancing more than ever.
“I go through [one pair] every one and a half weeks.”
She is at the studio from 9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m., spending about 30 hours a week dancing.
As the holiday season returns, these hours are spent in preparation for BalletMet’s production of “The Nutcracker.” A revered classic for many, it’s also one of Wessells’ favorite parts of her life in ballet.
“Oh my God. I love ‘The Nutcracker,’” she said. “It’s so nostalgic for me.”
This year, she has a role as one of the “Party Parents.” Over her six years of dancing in “The Nutcracker,” she’s had other various parts to play.
“I started out as Paige,” she said. “And then I was also an Angel and a Ginger. And then I’ve done Snow and Flower.”
Her role in Waltz of the Snowflakes was a highlight.
“My by far favorite part of ‘The Nutcracker’ is Snow. I love the music and the choreography, and it’s really fun to dance, and you get to throw snow around,” Wessells said.
No matter what character she plays, it’s a memorable time of year.
“It’s just a lot of fun. There’s a lot happening, [and] a lot of acting.”
Being a young professional athlete, performer and student is an impressive undertaking. Wessells commented on some of the challenges that come with dance.
“It’s a hard industry to be in,” she said.
Like the rest of the dance world, the pandemic created some roadblocks for Wessells and was generally a low point.
“It [was] definitely hard because [I couldn’t] really dance from home as well,” she said.
However, she considers herself lucky to have been able to adapt and continue to progress.
“I’m just glad that I was young enough that it didn’t affect me too much. And I was still able to grow as a dancer after the pandemic,” Wessells said. “But it would have been hard if it was right now.”
Resilience and dedication are critical traits which all dancers share, and seem to naturally be a part of Wessells’ character. During moments of dwindling motivation, she is able to mentally fortify herself.
“One thing that really helps me [is] reflecting on how far I’ve come. It really grounds me [when] I feel like I’m not making much progress, or [I’ve] had a bad day,” she said. “I just have to look back on old videos and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ve gotten so much better, so I’m gonna continue to get better.’”
Training alongside people older than her is both challenging and enriching.
“Everyone else is at least 20, and I’m 16,” Wessells said. “It’s very different to be in an environment with adults every day, working, as opposed to just being at school with people your own age.”
This environment, though, pushes her to grow even further.
“I’m proud of getting to where I am at my age… I think it’s really made me mature,” she said. “[Ballet has] taught me a lot about how to be independent and find myself and my confidence.”
Wessells has a specific warm-up and pre-performance rituals that help sustain her confidence.
“A lot of dancers can relate to being really superstitious,” she said. “For ‘Nutcracker,’ [our dressing rooms are] up on the sixth floor. I had to walk down every flight of stairs to get to the stage instead of take the elevator.”
Although Wessells said the “future” is unpredictable for dancers and hard to pin down, she’s sure to advance her dance career, driven by love for what she does.
“I haven’t remembered a time when I wanted to stop dancing,” she said.
This December as the curtains open, Wessells is one of the dancers creating the sentimental magic of “The Nutcracker.”
