Fayetteville’s oldest dance studio, the Blume School of Dance, is rigorously preparing for its upcoming holiday performance of The Nutcracker. Now in their 70th year of business, this year will mark the 55th time they’ve delighted the community with the classic presentation.
The performance also pays homage to the studio’s founder, Charlotte Blume, whose legacy lives on in the standard of excellence dancers expected from her. Charlotte Blume was a school teacher by trade and, according to Dina Lewis, Executive Director of the Blume School of Dance, “wanted so greatly for everyone to experience the arts.”
Since Charlotte Blume’s passing, some parts of the show have seen changes. Lewis noted the addition of a fog machine, snow machine, and backdrops. But the music and choreography have remained much the same.
“I try to be just a caretaker of her work,” Lewis remarked. “I’m just trying to keep it moving forward.”
Observant attendees will notice elements of Charlotte’s legacy sprinkled throughout the performance. Lewis detailed props and costumes that serve as reminders of her history, including two Dewdrop costumes with refurbished, light pink tutus that were Charlotte’s; a stool that Charlotte used while teaching, which is positioned on stage during the opening act; and a red dress that belonged to Charlotte which will be worn by one of the dancers. According to Lewis, the red dress is always worn by a dancer who “exudes the character that Charlotte had.” Lewis described that character as diligence and focus embodied by the phrase “work, work, work.”
Charlotte Blume’s meticulous preparation of costumes is another aspect of her legacy. Lewis says that Charlotte believed every costume was important.
“It has to fit the color scheme. It has to fit the child. It has to fit the child's coloring. She wanted everything to be just so. And that's really what we've tried to keep on and keep alive. Its that part of Charlotte, that perfectionism.”
Lewis makes sure that the dancers understand the studio’s history, and talks frequently to them about Charlotte. She added that they expect their students to be not only exceptional but want them to demand excellence of themselves. She pushes the dancers to find what they’re truly capable of, saying, “Show me what I know you have in you.”
Dancers for this year’s Nutcracker are aged six to eighteen and have been preparing for this performance since early in the year. Auditions took place in May, dance camps were held in June and July, and rehearsals started in August. Lewis described a “nonstop” schedule that sees many dancers in the studio 5-6 days a week.
While some adaptations are made for the dancers as they prepare for the Nutcracker, it doesn’t ease their workload. Lewis said they “adapt and make it even more difficult for them and see what they can accomplish on stage.”
Nevertheless, the dancers are disappointed when the performances end.
“They are sad because they want to keep dancing the Nutcracker for the rest of the season,” Lewis explained. “They absolutely love it.”
She says they hope the production is an opportunity for attendees and dancers to create consistent memories and traditions.
“I hope they can see every child's glimmer in their eyes, their pure satisfaction. They are performers, and they are performing for their community, and they are very much about giving back that art, that excitement for the season, and hoping that they have fulfilled some type of memory for the community.”
Tickets for Blume School’s public presentation of The Nutcracker on Dec. 14 and 15 can be purchased through the Crown Complex at https://bit.ly/40UaA1C. The same production will also be performed exclusively for students at Cumberland County Schools on Dec. 6 (sold out), 9 (sold out), and 13. Students include public, private, and home school groups, as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Tickets for exclusive student showings can be purchased by contacting Dina Lewis at 910 600-9204.

(Photo: Dancers with the Blume School of Dance have been preparing for their roles in The Nutcracker. Photos courtesy of the Blume School of Dance.)