'Nutcracker' vet Garza ready to lead holiday classic

Catalina Garza knows a thing or two about "The Nutcracker."

At the age of 8, she had her first role in the ballet. The "magic" of the ballet drew her to "The Nutcracker" for 23 years. And on Sunday she will help with auditions for the State Street Dance Studio's performance of the popular holiday classic.

"It's a very special ballet," she said. "Every one enjoys it -- even the little kids."

Garza joined the staff of the State Street Dance Studio in Geneva two years ago. As director of ballet at the studio, she will assist with casting for the production and choreograph some of the dance for the production.

Though teaching young students is a relatively new role for her, the 35-year-old Addison resident is no stranger to the art of dance.

She began her career at the age of seven in Mexico, where she trained at the National Institute of Art.

"I was very active (as a child)," she said. "My mom couldn't control me. I had so much energy that my parents decided to take me to this school."

When she applied, 300 children auditioned for a spot in the school. She was one of seven chosen for that year. As a student, she learned the art of ballet in classes that met for five hours a day, six days a week.

Through the years she has danced professionally with Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico, the National Company of Dance in Mexico, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio. She also performed as a guest artist with the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

"She is the real deal and she is wonderful to work with," said Linda Cunningham of Batavia, artistic director and founder of State Street Dance Studio. "Everyone is thrilled with her."

She said Garza has helped raise the bar in the studio's ballet program.

"She sets us apart," Cunningham said, noting a summer ballet program brought significant strides in dancers' abilities. "We are a more technically driven school at State Street -- she brings it exactly where I've always wanted it to go."

Garza teaches three days a week at the studio and works with students ranging in age from six to 18 years old and at various levels of study. Her husband, Cuban-born dancer Ernesto Quenedit, also will be teaching classes at the studio this year.

And while Garza teachers a variety of moves to her students, one thing she wants all of them to take away from her classes is respect for the art.

"It's not easy to dance well," she said. "Most kids they just do it for fun. But even if you do it for fun, I think it's important that you know what you're doing and that you know it well."

Want to try out?

Open auditions for "The Nutcracker" begin at 11 a.m. Sunday at the dance studio, 9 N. Fourth St., suite E, Geneva.

Times for specific age groups are as follows:

11 a.m.: ages 5-6

Noon: ages 7-8

1 p.m.: ages 9-11

2 p.m.: ages 12-17

3 p.m.: adults

Dancers are asked to call the studio to register for an audition.

The public is welcome to audition; however, those not enrolled at State Street Dance Studio will be required to take a class if cast for the production.

Visit www.statestreetdancestudio.com or call (630) 232-0444.