Photographs, quotes, thoughts and trees by Julie Walton Shaver, a lifestyle photographer based in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut


Melissa, Our Snowqueen

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w10 Melissa, Our SnowqueenBefore tonight, I’d never seen Melissa dance. But as her writing coach, I had read about it in her essays so rich with details. From her writings, I could easily imagine how comfortable she must be center stage. So when Melissa’s mom, Janine, offered me a ticket to see the Nutcracker, with Melissa as the snowqueen, I jumped away from my computer, grabbed my camera and off I went!

Turned out, I knew a lot of people in the cast, so I took pictures of pretty much everybody, thanks to Janine’s great seats!

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w01 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w03 Melissa, Our SnowqueenClara was played by Nicolette, another long-time friend of mine.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w04 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w05 Melissa, Our SnowqueenThe light was beautiful when Melissa was dancing.
I took a lot of pictures!

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w06 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w07 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w08 Melissa, Our SnowqueenOh sure, the pictures look great on this blog, but you should see them in high resolution. WOW!

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w09 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w11 Melissa, Our SnowqueenThis is Melissa’s eleventh appearance in the Nutcracker, having started out as a taffy clown.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w13 Melissa, Our SnowqueenShe’s now a senior, so graceful and beautiful.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w14 Melissa, Our SnowqueenBut what makes the Nutcracker such a special ballet is the ensemble cast.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w15 Melissa, Our SnowqueenThis production, by Ms. Doreen’s Fabulous Feet, has a cast of over 100 members.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w16 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w17 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w18 Melissa, Our SnowqueenSo cute! (This is another young friend of mine!)

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w19 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w20 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w21 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w22 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w23 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w24 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w25 Melissa, Our SnowqueenI love this shot.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w26 Melissa, Our SnowqueenAll the dancers were spectacular!

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w27 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w28 Melissa, Our Snowqueen
City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w29 Melissa, Our SnowqueenTHE END.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w30 Melissa, Our SnowqueenTaking a bow.

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w31 Melissa, Our SnowqueenMs. Kristina and Ms. Doreen

City of Nouns: Julie Walton Shaver Lifestyle Photography Nutcracker w12 Melissa, Our SnowqueenWe love you, Melissa.
Congratulations!

3 Responses to “Melissa, Our Snowqueen”

  1. LaceyG says:

    Oh, yep! What Beth and Bobbi said. Man, these are so nice. I haven’t gone to a ballet in years and years, and suddenly… it sounds so beautiful!

    ++

  2. Beth says:

    These are such AMAZING photos!!! The lighting was perfect!++

  3. Bobbi says:

    JUUUUULIE!!!!! That photo you took of the four young ballerinas in pink is FABULOUS!!! What an EXCELLENT opportunity! I wanna go!

    ~Bobbi

    PS. Now looks who’s having problems with exclamation marks! :)

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