Aldridge as the Sugarplum Fairy with Jermel Johnson as the Cavalier
Pennsylvania Ballet principal Amy Aldridge began her training at the School of Richmond Ballet with Arnott Mader, an enthusiastic teacher who encouraged her to go outside her comfort zone and challenge herself. She credits Mader for making her believe she could do anything.
“He was so high–energy from the time he walked in to the time he left. He had a bubbly personality that made you feel comfortable. He used to make me compete with the boys at school when it came to jumping—he always told me to go for it. I remember what that high energy felt like in the studio and how it inspired me to try harder.”
Aldridge will perform as the Sugarplum Fairy in Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker this weekend.
Photo by Alexander Iziliaev, courtesy of Pennsylvania Ballet