During the holiday season one of Galway’s one, 8th grader Madison Kieft, had the opportunity to dance in the Myers/Northeast Ballet production of The Nutcracker at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady.

Madison first started dancing in the Galway PTSA program.  Mrs. Lisa Hunter, the former teacher,  noticed Madison’s talent and dedication and encouraged her to go to ballet school.  Madison joined the Saratoga City Ballet shortly after.  She danced there for 3 years.  She performed The Nutrcracker with that company; the performance was at the Skidmore Dance Theater.  Unfortunately, the dance school closed.  That is when Madison found the Myers school and Mrs. Myers encouraged her to audition for the Proctor’s show.  There were 150-200 other girls trying out so Madison was happy to be selected.

Getting ready for the show was hard work.  Madison was dancing 5 nights a week and during dress rehearsals on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 5:00 p.m.  She was nervous about forgetting steps in her dances, but looking back, she realizes she did better than she expected.  Madison was the youngest of the dancers but said the other the other dancers were supportive.

She did a lot of riding in the car to and from dance lessons and rehearsals. “I am very lucky my dad was willing to drive me,” Madison said.  She outlined the intense schedule, “On Thursdays I would do a class in Saratoga and then we had an hour to get to rehearsal in Schenectady.  I got very used to being in the car, the studio, and staying up late and waking up early to get my homework done.”

The hard work paid off.  The performances of The Nutcracker at Proctor’s received rave reviews.