With the holiday season comes an annual favorite: “The Nutcracker.” The Georgia Ballet’s version of the Christmas-themed show comes to Marietta this week, but it’s been on Nanaaba Eshun’s mind for months.
For 20 years, Eshun has been part of The Georgia Ballet’s volunteer corps and has done almost every behind-the-scenes job, from selling advertising to organizing events and fundraisers. One of her favorite tasks has been making costumes and props, a gig that has her stitching and sewing new outfits for this year’s “Nutcracker” production. Since the costumes and cast change every year, each outfit has to be adjusted and tweaked.
“We have to fit the costume to the person wearing it, so we have lots of fittings where we’re adding hooks or fabrics,” she said. “It requires a lot of adjustment. But it lets me tap into my love of fashion.”
This year, the ballet’s production will feature new costumes for the Arabian and Spanish dancers, and a new snow scene that has had Eshun honing her recycling skills.
“Being a nonprofit, we rely heavily on community donations for costumes and props,” said Eshun. “The junk jewelry someone is throwing away can be used to embellish costumes. During a production of ‘Cinderella,’ a broken necklace gave me the pieces to put in a stepsister’s hair. I’ve found that using a sleeve from one outfit on another can make it look totally different.”
Eshun has been part of the ballet’s volunteer crew since moving from New York to Powder Springs 20 years ago when her daughter was 5.
“She danced with the ballet for years, but she’s 21 now and has moved on,” she said. “But I stayed. I love that I can be creative and utilize my natural talents here.”
During the day, Eshun is a power company administrator, but after hours and on many weekends, she’s at the ballet studio working on costumes. And sometimes she takes projects home.
“I spend at least 20 hours a week or more,” the volunteer noted. “Almost every day leading up to a show, I’m touching a project in some way. A lot of it is sewing, by hand or by machine, but sometimes it’s crafting something together, like a hat for a new Harlequin costume.”
Before a show, Eshun helps pack costumes and props, then unpacks them at Marietta’s Jennie T. Anderson Theatre where, once the curtain goes up, “I live backstage.” After the run, everything is packed up and moved out.
“It just never stops,” Eshun said. “But I love it.”
Information about The Georgia Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is online at georgiaballet.org.
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