The Mini-Nutcracker 2020 by the Centennial Youth Ballet

Like so many theatrical productions in 2020, Metro Parks’ Dance Division had to do things a little differently this year to make sure the city’s annual holiday tradition, The Mini-Nutcracker, did not go dark because of the pandemic. This year, see the holiday classic in a new light in a filmed version staged in many of Nashville’s beautiful and unique park locations. Watch the Flowers blossom in Centennial Park’s Sunken Garden, Marzipan dance among the reeds of Cockrill Spring, and the Angels welcome Clara and the Nutcracker to the Kingdom of the Sweets through the majestic doors of the Parthenon. In addition to the many beautiful scenic locations in Centennial Park, the Dance Division also visited other selected sites with historical significance including Fort Negley for the Battle Scene and Historic Stone Hall for the Party Scene.

Hey- we made a movie! I got to play the role of "camera man" and "film editor" for the Centennial Youth Ballet's the Mini-Nutcracker 2020! Working with the folks in the Metro Parks Dance Division and our crew was a neat adventure for me that I'm so glad I said "yes" to. When I was offered the project in the summer, I had no idea how much fun this production would be! We safely filmed all over Nashville with these talented kids to bring their annual stage show to screen, and you can bet you'll find some lil' superstars in the making here.

Preview the Mini-Nutcracker 2020 above!

As you may expect, these kids are used to performing their Nutcracker in-person during the holiday season. Hearing that the kids were excited to still get a chance to perform for their family and friends was so heartwarming to me! After one of our larger shoots, the “Battle” scene, I overheard some of them chatting about how they were gonna be movie stars!

We shot the film over 6 shooting days in October and November in multiple Metro Nashville-owned locations, including Fort Negley, Centennial Park, and Stone Hall Mansion. Each shoot was led and managed by our director and my friend, Maddie Hicks- an absolute dream to work alongside. Each scene was expertly adapted from stage to screen by the Metro Parks Dance Division choreographers (Katie Eliason, Andrea Greene, Kari Gregg, Christen Heilman, and Carly Hill), led by the Division’s supervisor Kathryn Wilkening. Of course, over 60 were kids involved in the production, and they absolutely thrived during our shoots. I know these kids have a bright future ahead of them and certainly a fun moment to remember during a wild year!

For me, the most exciting part of the process was our big screen premiere in December at a drive-in theatre in Franklin, TN. A few hundred cars came to the two screenings, and kids and families overflowed the field. I got to see so many of our performers out of their sunroofs and dancing outside of their cars- the absolute cutest thing!!!

Behind the Scenes Images by Karen Hicks Lawrence