Crowded in a vestibule with nine other members of Cohmar Community Living Room, Willie Norris peaked through the glass that separated the lobby of the Pennsylvania Ballet from a rehearsal space.
Dozens of lithe men and women in leotards practiced their pirouettes and other steps for the annual holiday performance of “The Nutcracker.”
“When I first came in the door, I actually thought I’d look silly as a 58-year-old doing the same thing,” Norris said. “But it was a great experience. It was something I’d never done before.”
Norris and the other people from Cohmar were at the ballet studio on North Broad Street Dec. 2 to take a 45-minute dance lesson and watch a rehearsal of two numbers from “The Nutcracker”: “Snowflakes” from the end of Act I and “Flowers” from the end of Act II, which are considered the most recognizable scenes from the ballet.
“This is a more in-depth way of understanding the art form,” said Sarah Cooper, director of community engagement at Pennsylvania Ballet. “They’re getting sweat on them and seeing the muscles of the dancers up close.”
The Cohmar group concluded its ballet experience this week as audience members of a full dress rehearsal of “The Nutcracker” in the Academy of Music.
The ballet partnered with the nonprofit Art-Reach to bring this experience to clients of Cohmar Community Living Room, a community-integrated recovery center. The organization provides community-based activities in Philadelphia for aduls who are HIV-positive and have a mental-health diagnosis or history of substance abuse. It operates as an LGBT-affirming organization.
“The whole idea is all of us are resilient and can bounce back,” said Rashad Scott, director of the organization. “We don’t want people sheltered away in an institution. We want to be part of the city where we live. It allows individuals to experience what’s part of our world and contribute.”
Charlie Miller, director of programming for Art-Reach, said he had seen Scott organize various art activities for the community living room. He said that’s why he thought the ballet would be a good fit for the organization’s members.
In the dance studio, those from Cohmar removed their shoes and took to the ballet barre right away, said Jon Martin, instructor at the School of Pennsylvania Ballet.
“Most language is through our hands and face,” Martin told them. “You’ve got to be friends with your feet.”
He showed the group first and second position, then explained how to plié and bow. After demonstrating the steps, Martin removed the barre so the Cohmar group could perform the sequence.
“This stuff is tough,” he said. “You have to develop strength and willpower. You will get through all this, but it takes determination.”
Martin acknowledged that a lot of the advice he gave to improve his students’ dancing could also apply to overcoming challenges in life. He said there’s no difference between succeeding at dance and succeeding in life.
“The striving goes hand in hand,” Martin said.
The Cohmar participants said they had a great time getting physical.
“The exercise and stretching was amazing,” said Timothy Ramsey. “It makes you feel good.”
“It’s like another world,” said Toby Tanksley, who started striking poses at the barre the second she entered the studio. “I wasn’t nervous at all. I was doing it to enjoy it.”
Elizabeth Holsinger said Martin made everyone feel comfortable from the start of the lesson, adding she had a lot of fun.
“We are all children at heart,” she said.