Young Aspenite’s ballet dream comes true

ASPEN ” Remy Lamping has discovered that hard work, and a belief that possibilities can be turned into reality, are a potent combination. It is a lesson she can now share with her mother.

Remy, a 12-year-old home-schooled Aspenite, dances the starring role of Clara in the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Aspen District Theatre. She has had her eye on the part since she began dancing with the local company ” a full eight years ago. Remy always saw playing Clara ” the young girl from E.T.A. Hoffman’s story who falls into a Christmas Eve slumber and dreams of bellicose mice, winter splendor and a heroic nutcracker soldier ” as a possibility, though her mother tried to protect her from disappointment.

“Yes, that was a goal,” said Remy, who will be surrounded by some students from the School of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and many professionals ” members of the ASFB company and guest artists. “I always thought it was a possibility, even when I was really small. I always wanted the part. Every year I’d say to my mom, ‘I want to be Clara,’ and my mom would say, ‘No, that won’t really happen.'”

Now that her daughter has the part, Dawn Lamping is not only grateful that a dream has come true, but is witnessing other positive fallout. “It’s definitely made her more mature and responsible,” she said. “She’s very goal-directed. This is very stimulating and motivating for her. She is definitely getting a chance to learn a lot this year.”

Remy has done more than just believe in the opportunity to dance the role of Clara. Every year since she was four she has taken classes with the ASFB and danced in “The Nutcracker.” At age 10, when she was a party girl in the production, the idea of being Clara “started to get to be more and more of a possibility,” she said. More recently, Remy has participated in the ASFB’s annual spring performance. Two years ago in the spring show, she had a tiny solo dance; last year, appearing as a caterpillar, she had a slightly bigger solo moment onstage.

Since the summer, when she jumped to level 4 of the ASFB’s school, she has been practicing six days a week. Preparing for “The Nutcracker” has meant even more rehearsal sessions. The dedication has left little time for other activities; asked what other interests she is pursuing, Remy said there were none. But she has no regrets.

“It’s actually been a lot of fun,” she said. “And tiring.”

But there have been payoffs, even before she hits the stage this weekend. Remy embodies the hopes of other tiny dancers as they look into their futures.

“Sometimes the little girls will ask me, ‘You’re Clara? That’s my favorite role,'” said Remy.

stewart@aspentimes.com