Bill Beene Of the St. Louis American
Nine-year-old dance prodigy Antonious “TJ” Hammond has performed various roles in the Russian holiday classic The Nutcracker, but this time is a charm.
Hammond, along with eight other young local dancers, has been cast in The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre, performed by the internationally acclaimed Joffrey Ballet.
The premier dance-company performs classical ballet, balanced harmoniously with pioneering modern dance pieces.
“I think it’s a great experience,” said Hammond, who also performs jazz dance, lyrical and musical theater and plays the cello.
The fairytale ballet revolves around a German girl named Clara who is given a toy nutcracker by her grandfather at the family’s Christmas Eve party.
Late that night, her nutcracker magically leads her into adventures from the wondrous realm of a fairly to a battle against wicked mice.
St. Louis children in the production portray party guests, mischievous mice, toy soldiers, mechanical dolls, Christmas tree angels and “polichinelles” – children who hide under the giant skirts of Mother Ginger, a 16-foot-tall puppet designed by Kermit Love of Sesame Street fame.
Hammond, who plays a punch doll in this production, has performed the principal role of Fritz, one of the children of the lead family.
“This is awesome – to be on The Fox stage for three nights at 9-years-old,” said Hammond’s mother, Sharrilyn Hammond.
“People dance all of their lives and never make it to The Fox.”
A total of 118 children were cast in open auditions in St. Louis in September by Charthel Arthur, one of the Joffrey Ballet’s two ballet masters.
Performances have been completely double-cast so that 59 children each appear in three of six performances.
Arthur will return to St. Louis on December 1 to conduct the final children’s rehearsals through December 5.
Local children range in age from 9-16 and reside in Missouri and Illinois. They are students at public, private, parochial and home schools. They take class from 40 different schools and studios throughout the region.
Hammond is currently with the Best Talent Studio.
His mother said that while she danced as a youngster, her son’s talent is God-given.
“I used to dance, but not on his level,” Hammond said.
“His technique is incredible and he does so naturally.”
Hammond noticed TJ’s dancing ability at 2-years-old, but was told by another studio that he was too young. At age three, TJ hit it the studio.
“He liked to dance and he learns quickly; he watched videos and was able to do whatever he saw them do on videos,” Hammond said.
TJ has earned several awards in national competitions, including the coveted StarQuest International Platinum Award and the Star Power National Dance Competition Platinum Award, crowning him Little Mister Star Power of 2007.
While TJ’s schedule is pretty busy, he still makes good grades in school, is active in church and plays soccer. If that isn’t enough, he now plays the cello.
Hammond said her young, polite and usually quiet son has given her a lot of proud moments.
“He’s totally different when he hit that stage,” she said. “He really does his thing and puts his all into it.”
TJ is a fourth grader at Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District.
Performances of The Nutcracker are at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 5-7; at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 8; and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 9.
Tickets are $20-$75 for the general public, $18-$68 for students and seniors. They are available at the Fox Theatre box office, by phone at MetroTix at 314-534-1111, and via metrotix.com.
The story of the ballet will be read to children in the Fox Theatre’s Marquee Room starting 45 minutes before each show: 6:45 p.m. December 5-7, 1:15 and 6:45 p.m. December 8; and 12:15 p.m. December 9.
