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   Skyy Lippo has been active on the ballet stage for most of her 18 years. (Photos courtesy Connie Lippo)

The early days of a dance queen.

The company and the dancer are both hitting milestones.

When Whidbey Island Dance Theatre stages its annual production of The Nutcracker in Dec., it’ll be the 25th anniversary for the holiday staple.

At the same time, Coupeville High School senior Skyy Lippo, who is dancing the lead role of the Faerie Queen, is capping her own 12-year run in the ballet.

Lippo, who has “danced pretty much since she could walk,” has spent her entire school life chasing her dream.

Over the years, she’s progressed from being a bumblebee buzzing around in the background to taking center stage.

Last year, the production shifted the Rat King role to being the Rat Queen for Lippo.

Now, in her final Nutcracker — at least as a high-schooler — she’s settling in to the lead performance, which in most previous years has gone to a pro dancer.

As Lippo has progressed from bit roles to starring parts, she’s also risen in the company and currently occupies a dance captain position.

After graduation, she plans to continue pursuing dance while attending college. Lippo is undecided on a career, but is entertaining thoughts of training to be an EMT or nurse.

The thought of her leaving Whidbey and not being in a future production of The Nutcracker is an idea which will take some getting used to for all involved.

“I don’t think we can let her graduate,” WIDT President Dierdre Sherman said with a laugh. “She really is the backbone of this company and I greatly appreciate all she brings as dance captain and as a dancer!”

It’s a feeling shared by many who have worked with Lippo during her days as a dancer.

“I don’t have enough positive ways to describe Skyy,” said Head Ballet Mistress Katelyn Lodell. “She’s hard working, mature beyond her years, and always brings light into the room.

“I’ll never forget watching her as a baby flower and her beaming smile,” she added. “So excited to watch her as faerie queen!”

When they look back at her career, Lippo’s former dance instructors do so with great pride.

“Skyy has been a blessing beyond words to me personally as her teacher, choreographer and director,” Jamie Pitts said. “I’ve so appreciated her helpful and organized nature and her willingness to push herself herself physically and emotionally in everything we have worked on together.

“She is a poster child for current and future dancers and has been a gift to her company girls as their captain.”

Lippo was a student in the first modern dance class Amy Jo Lehman taught after returning home for college, making this an especially emotional performance for her former instructor.

“Baby Skyy is all grown up! She made it so easy for all of us,” Lehman said. “She’s the heart and soul of the studio and the company and she represents the epitome of hard work.

“I’m sure there were years where she didn’t get cast in the roles she was hoping, or got criticism in class that stung, but she pushed through and didn’t let it faze her, only motivate her,” she added. “Now look at her — she’s developed into such a beautiful, strong, confident, amazing dancer.”

The Nutcracker runs over two weekends, with performances Dec. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17.

For more info and to buy tickets, pop over to:

http://widtonline.org/

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