North Aiken students dance 'The Nutcracker'

North Aiken Elementary School music students took the stage before the holiday break for one of their most ambitious projects ever - "The Nutcracker Suite."

This children's version of Tchaikovsky's enduring ballet was directed by Music Director Nanette Walker and choreographed by Amber Quarles, the school's visual and performing arts coordinator.

The program became even more of a team effort when Walker couldn't attend after coming down with the flu.

"I asked the fourth- and fifth-grade teachers to help, and I was delighted how they stepped in so well," said Quarles. "They were really excited about it. We even had a substitute teacher, Virginia Fikes, and a parent, Adrianne Harris, help us out, too."

Quarles designed student T-shirts for the production, which were purchased by GlaxoSmithKline. The company "adopted" North Aiken several years ago and has been a big supporter of the school, Quarles said.

The featured performers included Carlie Dorn and Sarah Horn, Sugar Plum Fairy dancers; Xavier Sullivan and D'Morriss Ginyard, Russian dancers; Gabrielle Kelley, Glorianna Kelley and MaKayla Harris, Arabian dancers; Sara Quarles and Annisia Dunbar, Chinese dancers; Davion McKee, Jahan Jordan, Austin Martin, Marcus Mitchum, Nygeria Tyler, Kadijah Hilton, Gabrielle Kelley and Lomeka Linder, waltz dancers.

Sam McCall provided the welcome and closing remarks. Narrators included Calvin Windless, Kizzy Robinson, Kumar Carter, Morissa Bryant, Christian Hawkins and Marcus Jordan.

Other performers were Melvin McKie, Tyreck Hightower, Jalen Huggins, Terris Abney, Kason Williams, Anthony Potts, C.J. Aquilar, Corey Raiford, Precious Butler, Doryan Broadwater, Marquez Rouse, Deanna Stevens, Dante Johnson, Cassandra Todman, Jaikwon Jenkins and Markel Weaver.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.