Even though she has danced since the age of 3, Mary-Quinn Aber of Boca Raton didn’t expect to be chosen to portray Clara in a scene from The Nutcracker in the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” during its run at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale through Dec. 7. That’s probably an understatement.
“I was very surprised when I found out I got the role. I went to the audition sort of at the last minute with a friend, and thought it would be fun and a good experience, but I didn’t think I’d get picked,” said Aber, who will turn 13 on Sunday.
“When my Mom and Dad both showed up at my dance studio, I wondered why, and then they told me I had been picked. I thought, are they sure they got the right number?”
Dancing in The Nutcracker isn’t new for Aber. She played the part of Clara in her dance school’s production last year and had roles as one of Ginger’s children, the Mouse King and a doll in Dance Academy of Boca Raton shows.
But this is her first turn working with a professional company.
“I’m really excited; this is my first time in something like this, and I really don’t know what to expect yet,” said Aber, who will share the role with a Broward County girl. Each of them will dance in 30 shows. “Playing Clara last year really inspired me to try out for this one.”
Fifty-seven girls auditioned for the role. “So many girls auditioned, it made the decision more difficult, but it was decided that Mary-Quinn and Emily were the best for the role,” said Jennifer Sierra-Grobbelaar, public relations and marketing operations manager for Clear Channel Entertainment, which is presenting the show.
Emily Hilton from Southwest Ranches was chosen as the Broward County Clara.
“One of the scenes is a child’s dream, and the girls will dance to Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the end of the number.”
The production will feature the Rockettes, traditional holiday favorites like the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” a living Nativity and contemporary scenes such as “Christmas in New York.” The show will be presented with different young dancers in seven other cities.
Aber began her dance training with ballet, tap and jazz classes at the Dance Academy of Boca Raton but decided to focus solely on ballet after taking classes at the Magda Aunon School of Ballet in Fort Lauderdale three years ago.
“I decided to try it for a year, and I learned I really enjoyed ballet and pointe most, so I stayed,” she said.
A seventh-grader at St. Joan of Arc School in Boca Raton, she will take a leave of absence from school for a month to rehearse and perform.
“She’ll have an on-site tutor three hours a day, and the tutor is coordinating with St. Joan’s so that she won’t fall behind in anything,” said Aber’s mother, Lorraine Aber.
“It’s her love. She’s in her element when she dances,” she said. “I don’t know how long she’ll continue, but as long as she loves it, why not? She has a gift.”
Aber plans to continue dancing, but doesn’t know for how long.
“I’ll definitely continue, but I want to do well in school too so I can get into a good college,” she said. “I love dance, but I don’t want to be too obsessed with it.”
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is at 201 SW Fifth Ave. Tickets are $20 to $59.50. Call 954-462-9539 or 800-564-9539, or order tickets online by visiting
E-mail Lisa Goddard at or fax 561-272-3189.
