Art
PRESS ROOM: Washburn Student Celebrates 10 Years of Classical ‘Nutcracker’ Ballet Performances
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — This year, Olivia Simmons Bergin, a freshman at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, is marking her 10th year of performing in the Minnesota Academy of Russian Ballet’s traditional Nutcracker Suite ballet
By MSR News Online
This year, Olivia Simmons Bergin, a freshman at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, is marking her 10th year of performing in the Minnesota Academy of Russian Ballet’s traditional Nutcracker Suite ballet.
Simmons Bergin began ballet at McRae Park’s long-standing dance program for preschoolers.As a kindergartener, she started attending a rigorous, highly disciplined Russian ballet school in Eden Prairie, MN that puts on a traditional rendition of the popularNutcracker Suite ballet. She will be featured in several solos in this year’s show.
Simmons Bergin just completed the XC Season for Washburn’s Girls Cross Country track team, adding to their consecutive City Conference titles.Now she will trade in her XC cleats for pointe shoes in a traditional Russian Nutcracker ballet performance.
Along with cross country, Simmons Bergin plays violin in Washburn’s Chamber Orchestra and is a member of the National Charity League, a volunteer service organization.
She is the daughter of Kym Simmons and Daniel Bergin. Mr. Bergin is notable documentary filmmaker and Powderhorn native. Simmons Bergin is the great-granddaughter of Ida Mae Young (St. Peter’s AME) and John Young, of the historically recognized Young Bros. beauty and barbershops.
The Nutcracker performance takes place at the Eden Prairie High School Performing Arts Center December 14-16. For show times, tickets, and other info visit minnesotaballetschool.com/nutcracker.
This article originally appeared in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.