The Nutcracker Ballet - A Dream Comes True for a Little Girl Who Learns Differently

December 2, 2010

We all know that the story of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ is imagined in the dream of a little girl.  When the Pennsylvania Ballet’s 42nd production opens on December 4th, a fantastic dream will come to life for another little girl on stage at the Academy of Music. 

Annika Bergofin took her first formal ballet class last February at Philadelphia Studio Ballet in Haverford. Within a few months of starting she was moved to a higher level. This was positive encouragement that boosted her confidence—much needed because things weren’t going as well in school.  Annika has a learning disability—dyscalculia—that is specific to math.  Even though she had been talking in full sentences since she was one year old and showed great maturity and imagination for her age, first and second grade math were not clicking for her, leading to frustration and anxiety that affected almost everything in her life.  Like many other creative, intelligent children, Annika didn’t fit neatly into a box, or on a bell curve for that matter. Her parents hoped to find a school that would embrace her obvious artistic strengths, restore her self-esteem, and help her learn in a way that would work for her.

They found that in AIM—Academy In Manayunk.

There was great buzz about AIM. But, their biggest question was about the math curriculum. Were the resources for a math learning disability as strong as those for reading? Would the teachers celebrate the fact that Annika was really good at coloring outside the lines, and liked to dance down the hall between classes?  Could they help her accomplish academic success with a different approach?  Through discussions with an educational psychologist and school learning director, attending two AIM open houses, and meeting with other AIM parents, Lisa and Bill Bergofin knew that the Academy’s individualized arts-based and immersion style of learning would be a great fit for their daughter.

So, in September, Annika became a happy third grader at AIM, thriving in the creativity with which her teachers approach lessons.  At ballet class her teacher, Ballet Mistress Suzanne Slenn, selected her to audition for the Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. The audition included five hours of waiting, dancing, and waiting some more with no parents allowed. The results were amazing. She landed two roles.  She’s an angel in the sugar plum fairy scene – that particular dance involves complicated patterns across the floor and tricky timing in terms of counting the music; a true test of Annika’s newfound math skills.  Her bigger part is that of the youngest grandchild party girl – it’s a prestigious role for the younger girls and she’s by far the youngest.  The dance is very advanced and requires a lot of ballet experience, poise, and intense memorization for an eight year old!

When asked what they would want other parents of children like Annika to know, Lisa and Bill Bergofin simply reply, “Every child should have an opportunity to learn. It’s kid’s differences that make them special and lead to new thinking. And some of the greatest minds and accomplishments throughout history belong to those who learned differently.  It’s probably where the term ‘off the charts’ comes from.”  Lisa adds that her daughter loves a particular sign on the wall back at her ballet studio that reads, “Dance as if nobody is watching.”  At AIM, Annika’s self-consciousness and worry have been replaced by confidence, excitement, and discovery so now she can learn and dance as the world watches.

AIM—Academy In Manayunk is the Philadelphia region’s research-based, 1-12 college preparatory school for children with learning disabilities/differences.  It is the only school of its kind in this region that has grown in enrollment over the past two years.  To learn more about AIM and to register for an open house, visit www.aimpa.org or call 215-483-2461.  For information on the Pennsylvania Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker visit www.paballet.org or contact Marissa Montenegro at 215-587-6923.