The NutCracker

An exaggerated telling of a Timberline student’s first ever dance solo

By: Hanna Johnson, Copy Editor

November 7, 2024

Her breathing stilled, all sound around her diminishing until there was only the music. Her feet moved as they had done hundreds of times before. The music flowing through her like the blood in her veins. Every beat of sound, like the beat of her heart, slow and bounding.

The bright lights shone down on her face, highlighting the makeup she took hours to put on. Her cheeks pink as tulips in spring, her eyes like melted honey, her lips as red as roses in snow, her hair pulled back in a tight black bun, her skin pale as snow basked in sun, her movements so fluid you couldn’t tell where she started and the music ended, her leotard shining across the room, covering the hundreds of people in a blue hue. Hundreds of people. Hundreds of eyes. All eyes on her.

Months of rigorous training. Hours spent in the ballet studio to hone her skills. All for the moment she would be on stage. All to prove that she was worthy of the lead role she was given. “You can do this.” Her mother told her. “I know you can be the best.” Her mother said. Those words run through her mind, over and over. Every time she fell, every time she pushed herself to go further, she told herself that she Needed To Be The Best.

My body doesn’t noodle as naturally as theirs do,

So I stretch and flex,

Rehearse each position in my mind.

Again!

Open!

Higher!

Again!

I won’t give up,

I won’t,

no matter what they say.

Quarter turn!

Half turn!

Full turn!

Pirouette!

I’ll be a prima ballerina yet!

-By Edgar Degas

“The NutCracker” The fliers said, her name laying under the role of Clara. Her name. That was her name. “Oh my god… That’s my name!” She yelled happily, her smile practically spanning the entirety of her face. “That it is.” Her ballet teacher Mrs. Lina said, coming up to stand beside her, “You are our Clara, my dear.” Mrs. Lina said, the ghost of a smile across her face. Mrs. Linas old eyes filled with a look of pride, the wrinkles around them deepening. “You will Be the best.”

Her muscles burned and ached, her eyes watered as she fought to catch her breath. The music ended and she stood on the stage alone, her arms raised high and her back arched in a dramatic arc. Her heart pounded in that split second before the audience exploded in applause, people standing and cheering. The cheers continued far after the curtain had fallen, her body strung taut Listening to the cheers. All those cheers. Just for them. Just for her.

Photo by: Melisa Jones
A young Hanna Johnson after her first ballet solo.

Donate to The Timberline Paw Print

Your donation will support the student journalists of Timberline High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributors

Hanna Johnson, Copy Editor

Howdy! My name is Hanna Johnson, and I am a senior here at Timberline High School. I am from Idaho and have lived here my whole life. My experience in writing includes composing poems for obituaries and helping to write speeches for my grandma’s church proceedings in the past. I love how diverse journalism is—the same story can have so many different perspectives and viewpoints depending on how we see them. Writing stories and highlighting mental health are some of the things I am most passionate about. I believe that I bring a strong sense of personal style to my writing. I hope to enhance understanding of students' mental health and provide a resource everyone can turn to. I am a CNA at Riverview Rehabilitation and plan to become a pediatric nurse in the future.

June Toward, Lead Artist

My name is June Toward, I am a Sophomore, and this is my first year at Timberline. I don't have any school experience with journalism or writing, but I'm very excited to start. Half of what I'm doing is also art. I am the Lead Artist of the Paw Print. I have always enjoyed writing ever since I was pretty young, so that's why I wanted to join. I really want to explore topics about cooking or baking when I DO write, but I will most likely be doing the art more. I am ready to explore every topic of art my partners need. I've been drawing since forever, I know that almost every kid draws when they're little but I was actually pretty good at it. I knew I loved it since I was very young. I'm good at every art media besides pottery. Some of my goals this year is to try to get more outgoing and better at communicating. I think I will since I have to communicate with my partners in the Paw Print. Besides Art and Writing, in my free time I love playing volleyball, and just relaxing and watching movies/TV shows and listening to music.