Windham Dancer Performing Role of the Snow Queen

Danielle Fitzgerald has reached crunch time, and soon a lot of her hard work will pay off in more ways than one.

Start with the short term. Fitzgerald is in what she calls the “serious mode” of rehearsals for an upcoming production of “The Nutracker,” which involves weekends of little sleep and a lot of time logged in the studio.

Fitzgerald will tackle the Windham High School auditorium stage in the lead role of the Snow Queen. The center stage honor is a culmination of 13 long years honing her dancing talents.

“I just love the grace about (dance) and just the idea of making something look so easy and so beautiful," she said, “but it’s so hard and you need so much strength and power behind it.”

But Fitzgerald is hardly just a dancer. In fact, she doesn’t even see herself turning dance into any sort of career.

Her long-term payoff is college, Northwestern University being the top choice, and a career in something she loves, whatever that may be.

Fitzgerald says that she wants to start with biology, having always been attracted to the sciences, although she suspects she might change her major during her post-secondary education.

Right now Fitzgerald is working through honors and advanced placement courses at WHS, as is her twin brother Patrick, who just for sake of playing opposites, has Northeastern University as one of his school choices.

As a Windham lifer, Fitzgerald has been attached to her brother every step of the way. With that, she knows it will be tough to be away from him next fall.

“It will definitely be hard separating next year,” she said.

But before she and her brother move on from WHS, Danielle has a bit more of her heart and soul left to pour out on the stage.

Sure, she has climbed the ladder of roles in “The Nutcracker” for nine years, beginning when she was a kid as a soldier in the famed battle scene.

But after Thanksgiving, when the curtains will open and friends and family will be watching, she knows that eyes will be on her.

“There’s pressure with a lead role because you know that everyone is going to be looking at you but then again it’s just exciting,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m definitely way more excited than nervous.”

One of the wild dynamics about Londonderry Dance Academy, the studio running the production, involves the work of Director Barbara Mullen to bring in professional dancers from companies in New York City.

Fitzgerald has never even met her partner for this month’s show – American Ballet Theatre professional Sterling Baca.

He is a 19-year-old Colorado native who began his ballet training at age 11.

The four days before the show will be the only window that Fitzgerald will get to rehearse with Baca.

“When I was younger, I used to get really nervous when the (professional) dancers would come in,” she said. “Now it’s just more exciting. I am dancing on stage with them.”

Four other professionals will travel to New Hampshire alongside Baca.

Until then, Fitzgerald is juggling her duties of rehearsing the role, being an assistant to Mullen, and being a normal, teenage kid going back and forth between extra-curricular activities outside of the studio.

Fitzgerald plays three instruments (the French horn, piano and flute), participates in Model U.N. and Math League. She used to squeeze in lacrosse before dance took over.

But for the student with no time and a full transcript, the same girl who was encouraged to dance by a mother who danced as a kid herself, Fitzgerald maintains the notion that the hobby has polished her determination as a human being.

“I think more than anything (dancing) has shaped the person I’ve become,” she said. “It’s established a work ethic that a lot of people don’t seem to have. I’m really persistent and determined to accomplish my goals.”

Windham High School will host “The Nutracker” on Nov. 24-25. Find tickets here.