A childSA国际影视传媒檚 storybook vision of dancing on stage within a magical Christmas scene has now come to life in a storybook written by Yellowknife author Amber Henry.

The book titled If You Take Me to The Nutcracker was commissioned by the Bella Dance Academy to celebrate its 20th anniversary and as a way to raise funds for their scholarship program.

Phoenix Smith, owner of the academy, said the intent of the story is to convey that SA国际影视传媒渄ance is for everyone.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭here's a lot of different ways that somebody could be inspired to take dance, or to want to be a dancer,SA国际影视传媒� Smith said.

For the love of dance

Henry, the author of several childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 books, said writing the book was special for her as she was a dancer as a child, so she could make that nostalgic connection.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was inspired knowing that kids come away from The Nutcracker wanting to dance,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he goal was to create a story that dancers of any background or skill level would see themselves in, and I hope we have succeeded, but we really wanted to send that message that dancing was for everyone, but it's also something that your family becomes involved with as well,SA国际影视传媒� Henry said.

While the book was written for children between four and eight years old, Henry said there is no age limit for someone to enjoy the story.

Christmas classic

Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write the two-act ballet, The Nutcracker, in 1892. The dance, which depicts a childSA国际影视传媒檚 imagination on Christmas Eve, has since become a well-loved tradition to watch during the Christmas season.

The ballet is also performed in Yellowknife at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre by Bella Dance Academy members, Smith said, noting that about 100 dancers are involved in the major production.

Part of what makes The Nutcracker an endearing story, Smith said, is how people will experience different emotions and have different nostalgia, SA国际影视传媒渄epending on what point in your life youSA国际影视传媒檙e in and how youSA国际影视传媒檝e experienced the story before.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪o I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 really special, and as kids grow, they go back to The Nutcracker and they are going to experience it again and again in a different way.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd if they go as parents and they take their kid to the Nutcracker, they're going to see that wonder and that magic in their kid's eyes, and maybe their kid will be inspired to take a dance class.SA国际影视传媒�

In the drawing room

Henry said she worked with illustrator John Henderson to bring the story to life on the pages of the book.

Henderson, who was a long-standing cartoonist for the Yellowknifer newspaper until 2023, said his daughter danced at the Academy from the time she was three and now she works there, so he was well-acquainted with the dance atmosphere.

SA国际影视传媒淪o when the idea for the book came up, I volunteered my time to the studio and Phoenix. I thought it was a neat project and a nice thought to support their scholarship fund,SA国际影视传媒� Henderson said.

Henderson said his favourite illustration is when the dancer in the story asks her mom to dance.

SA国际影视传媒淗er Mom is adamantly saying, SA国际影视传媒楴o, no, I don't want to,SA国际影视传媒� with a little bit of fear in her eyes. But then of course she gives in on the next page or so and they dance.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd that's my favorite one.SA国际影视传媒�

Henderson said it was a fun project for everybody involved.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd, you know, ultimately, the intent behind the project is good. And if they sell some copies, I think it's great if the proceeds go to a good cause.SA国际影视传媒�

Special edition

Smith said she is very proud of the book project.

SA国际影视传媒淚'm excited. I think people will recognize imagery. You'll open the book and you'll see the stage that you recognize at NACC,SA国际影视传媒� Smith said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think it'll be special for people and special for our dance community in particular.SA国际影视传媒�

Henry, too, said she was happy with the book.

SA国际影视传媒淚 hope other people are really happy with it as well, but it was what was in my heart, and I think I got it on the page in the way that I wanted to tell it, so I just hope it speaks to other people, too," she said.