Bucks ballerina lands lead role in ‘Nutcracker, 1776’

LOWER MAhEFIELD – Lower Makefield teen Madeline Gardella has landed a lead role in “Nutcracker, 1776,” a full-length ballet debuting at Philadelphia’s Merriam Theater Dec. 1.

Of course Gardella, 13, has plenty of stage experience, having spent the past two holiday seasons dancing the role of ‘Clara’ in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the world-famous Rockettes. She was featured in several of the show’s scenes, including the Nutcracker.

In “Nutcracker, 1776” Gardella will play Abby, a character similar to Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and will be featured prominently throughout the show.

The ballerina has attended St. Ignatius School in Yardley, St. Andrew Education Center in Newtown and The Dance Academy in Holland. Now, she studies classical ballet full time at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.

In May 2010, toward the end of 5th grade, Madeleine auditioned to be ‘Clara’ in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular for the first time. Two months later, she received the news that she got the part in the show’s Providence, RI / Boston, Mass. tour.

She was scheduled to leave for rehearsals in October - just about six weeks into her sixth grade year at St. Andrew - and not return until January 2011, when the show ended.

“The teachers, staff and students were very supportive of my being gone for nearly three months,” Madeleine said. Her teachers sent assignments and tests to her, which she completed with the help of tutors provided by the show.

When the show ended in January 2011, the teenager went back to regular school hours and dance classes af- ter school.

In May 2011, Madeleine once again auditioned for the role of Clara. Once again, she landed the part. Her second year would not be exactly like the first, though.

“But this time, I would be on the stage in NYC at Ra- dio City Music Hall itself!” she said.

At the same time she was getting ready to leave for her second season as a Radio City ‘Clara’, she was leaning toward attending The Rock School on a full time basis, Monday - Saturday and all day long -- not just after school, focusing solely on classical ballet.

The directors of The Rock School, Bo and Stephanie Spassoff, agreed that a full-time ballet curriculum would be good for Madeleine. Since she wants to be a professional ballet dancer, a full-time ballet training program was the natural next step.

Given that Madeleine had again been cast in a show that would take her away from school for three months and had decided to go to ballet training full-time, Madeline’s parents decided on an education separate from a traditional, bricks-and-mortar, set-schedule school.

Madeleine enrolled at 21st Century Cyber Charter School, a Pennsylvania-based, online educational program. This is her second year with the school. Her mother, Ann, said the experience has been “liberating” for her ballerina. Madeline agreed.

“I can get my school assignments completed on my own time,” Madeleine said. When she knows there are going to be a lot of rehearsals or performances, she will work ahead as much as possible so that she doesn’t fall behind in her assignments and her grades don’t suffer.

“I can take school wherever I go,” the eighth-grader said. If she is traveling, has a break at The Rock School or sitting at home with some spare time at night, she can get school assignments accomplished. Online school is very flexible and works well for Madeleine, according to her mother.

If ballet were a regular subject in school, it would be Madeleine’s favorite. Since it’s not, English is at the top of her list. She likes to express herself in ways other than dance.

“I like to write and be creative with words,” Madeline said.

Ultimately, Madeleine would like to become a principal dancer in a prominent ballet company.

There’s not much spare time these days for the young ballerina, but when she does get free time, she spends it with friends, going out to lunch, shopping and going to sleepovers.

Madeleine has a brother, Mark, 11. Her father’s name is also Mark.