Nutcracker | The mother-daughter magic of The Nutcracker

Nutcracker, presented by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, is one of the most popular ballets in the world and a tradition in Montreal, since 1964, to the music of Tchaikovsky. First soloist Anya Nesvitaylo will be joined by her daughter Katia Onyshchenko, who is also part of the cast.

Anya Nesvitaylo loves this holiday classic, which she’s danced to countless times. “It’s so magical,” says the one who was promoted to first soloist this year at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

She plays several roles in Nutcracker. Depending on the performances, she plays the Snow Queen, the Sugar Plum Fairy and L’Orientale. This year is special in her eyes, because she dances with Katia, her 8-year-old daughter, who plays a little mouse. “It’s fun, because the little mouse wants to win the battle. She attacks Nutcracker, ”says Katia Onyshchenko.

This is her second stage experience with her mother, as she performed in Vendetta: Story of the Mafia, in 2018, at 4 years old. “I like to see my mother dance,” she says, shyly. But will she also make it her job? “I don’t know,” she replies.

Born in Ukraine, Anya studied at the Ballet School in Kharkiv, where she made her debut in 2001. Then she moved to Egypt where she was a soloist at the Cairo Opera House for four years. “I have always dreamed of traveling and going to work abroad to live different experiences. I was offered Egypt and I said to myself: why not! Looking back, I wonder how my mother managed to let me go, because I was only 18! “, she recalls.

It was there that she met her husband, Sascha Onyshchenko. “In fact, I already knew him, since we went to the same dance school in Ukraine and he is now a photographer for Les Grands Ballets! “, she says.

Canada through Moncton

It was in 2006 that she arrived in Canada, in Moncton, where she became principal soloist at the Atlantic Ballet Theater of Canada, and it was in Moncton that her daughter Katia was born. In 2015, she was hired by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the little family moved to Montreal. “I wanted to be part of a bigger dance company. It gave me confidence and it’s a great boost in my career. It’s very exciting to be able to play different roles,” says Anya Nesvitaylo.

His repertoire is vast, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Bayadere, Carmen, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Rite of Spring.

At Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, she is surrounded by a team of 43 dancers from different countries: France, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Mexico, which she appreciates greatly.

With the war in Ukraine, Anya Nesvitaylo, however, had an extremely difficult year. She worries about her family and friends who are still there. “Fortunately, my sister, her husband and their 6-year-old daughter arrived in Montreal in October, but my parents are in Kyiv. They lack electricity… We hope to be able to bring them to Montreal as soon as possible,” she said.

“It’s a great relief to have my sister with me. We help each other with our children. She is learning French. Her daughter is at school and her husband has already found work in the renovation. They discover life in Montreal. We’re going to spend Christmas together and they’re going to come see us dance at Nutcracker, she says. It ends well the year and we do not lose hope for my parents. »

Nutcracker is presented until December 30 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.