No sooner is the scarlet velvet costume discarded than I hurry home to blat out another blog entry.

It's completely different what you experience back stage than when you are in the audience. What you hear instead of the orchestra are the dancers' feet -- rhythmic thumping and drumming as they twirl, run, cascade. With the Nutcracker, it is very 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and, like the sound of patty-cake. The floor is slightly built up -- a level of plywood or rubber matting or something -- and it "gives" when you move. That's so the dancers won't hurt their feet on a non-pliable surface. (You probably already knew that, didn't you bloggies?)

Also: Everyone talks during the performance. To each other on stage while they're performing and from the wings. "Is it a full house?" "Watch this jump coming up, see if she makes the octoople spin." And it's no backstage sotto voces either; it's normal speaking tones just like you're on the phone or in a meeting or something. Everyone claps and cheers in the wings as their colleagues complete difficult moves. I didn't think you could devote any brainpower to anything other than the dancing -- it's not like it's the Macarena or something. But maybe it's different because everyone's done the Nutcracker so many times. Or maybe it's because they're Professionals.

And: I'm pretty amazed at the physical ability. I can't even touch my toes! Being so close, you can watch muscle groups gliding, contracting, molding, moving in tandem. It's fun to watch. On many levels.

One of the highlights this year has been volunteering in performances here. I really don't know much about either opera and ballet, and being this close brings a new appreciation. (Between the two, I think opera wins out for me.)

Pleasant dreams... Don't let the sugarplum fairies bite!