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Alamogordo NM News

Dec 30, 2015

Ruidoso dancer performs Nutcracker with Moscow Ballet

Two months ago, the Moscow Ballet approached Monique Foster, owner of Las Cruces School of Dance and Music and Alamogordo Academy of Ballet, about hosting auditions for the performance. McLeod was one of 40 dancers between eight- and 17-years-old chosen to perform with the company. The dancers began learning their parts immediately following the audition process and have rehearsed for the performance every Sunday for the last two months. Ruidoso local Ariana McLeod recently performed with the Moscow Ballet in The Great Russian Nutcracker in El Paso. (Photo: Courtesy Brenda Cordova) McLeod's love of the art and her dedication to it is obvious. In addition to the Moscow Ballet performance, she also danced the parts of Snow Queen, Marzipan, Waltz of the Flowers and as a parent in the Party Scene for her dance school's own performance of The Nutcracker. Her training and rehearsal schedules have put her on the road from Ruidoso to Las Cruces or Alamogordo every day in December. Over the years McLeod has given up hours free time and overcome injuries such as a labrum tear and damaged hip flexor to continue to pursue the sport. It took surgery to repair the tear and six months of labor intensive physical therapy for her to return to dance. Without question, the life of a dancer is intense, but McLeod doesn't see it as a sacrifice. While many dancers stop dancing after high school to attend college or pursue other activities McLeod said she plans to continue to dance through college. She is even adding teaching to her repertoire. Mcleod also will pursue a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and then attend physical therapy school. For now, she is content to begin teaching a jazz class at her school in January and to continue to do what she relishes. Plus, there is always preparing for the next performance. Mcleod will dance in Beauty and the Beast in Alamogordo in May. "I love performing, it's one of my favorite things to do," McLeod said. "Dancing makes me happy." A\n accomplished dancer, Ariana McLeod perfor... (Ruidoso News)