Three Hazelwood middle school students will perform with the Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet in its production of the “Nutcracker” at the Fox Theatre, which begins Thursday.

Faith Schallert, an eighth grader who attends Hazelwood West Middle School, Taelor Morris, a sixth grader who goes to Hazelwood North Middle School and Kristin Young, a seventh grader who attends Hazelwood Central Middle School, have parts in the well-known production. 

Schallert portrays one of the party guests who attends a Christmas party with characters Clara and Fritz during the opening act. Schallert, who is 13 and has danced for six years, described what she thinks about while dancing.

 “When you are dancing, you go into your own little world and you don’t have to worry about anything else,” she said. “I was very excited because I tried out for this show two years ago and I didn’t make it. I also got the part I wanted. It has a lot of dancing and it’s a lot of fun.” 

All three girls were selected for their roles out of 300 young local dancers who auditioned in September.

“I am excited because it’s a big thing and it’s at the Fox Theatre with the Joffrey Ballet,” Morris said. She is 11 and has been dancing for nine years. Like Schallert, Morris plays the role of a party guest. 

When she is on stage, Morris says she “thinks about getting the steps right and making the audience happy when I perform. I like to show people that I can do something that I like to do.”

Young, 12, has danced for four years. Her role is different from the others; she plays one of the toy soldiers who battles the Mouse King and his mounted mice. “It’s fun to try to kill the mounted mice,” Young said. 

As a toy soldier, Young had to act differently - all of her movements had to reflect her role.

“We don’t have any flexibility, our movements are very wooden,” she said. She added that it took her about two weeks to learn her part, which was difficult at times because, “I like to move around a lot.” 

“Nutcracker” is presented by Dance St. Louis and AmerenUE in six performances through Sunday, December 6. Single tickets cost as low as $19 for students and senior citizens and start at $20 for the general public. Call Dance St. Louis at (314) 534-6622 for ticket information.