2 Friday, December 1, 2017brooklintowncrier.com Less than Half the Picture: By Richard Bercuson How to herd grasshoppers Here's one of those things you didn't really need to know but I'll tell you anyway: The longest period of time in the universe is the supereon, so called because it is comprised of many eons. These in turn are made up of eras, then periods, then epochs, then millenia. So there. For a truer perspective, it may take a millisecond for an adult's directorial gestures to travel through the time-space continuum and reach a child's eyes. However, as said child processes the visual and decides if it's worthwhile following, it can take at least one supereon for the right movement to occur. Such are the challenges of working with children. Ask anyone who's coached, directed, or even tried to arrange them at a birthday party table. It's what I expected from watching the Prima Dance Academy's rehearsal of the ballet The Nutcracker, which has a three performance run on the weekend of Dec. 16-17. However, It's not at all what I saw. Like the ballet itself, the Prima rehearsal was somewhat magical. Indeed, it seems even grasshoppers can be herded. Brooklin's old Community Centre, where I interviewed the show's artistic director Catherine Kourkounakis, quietly filled with children that evening. The only event, so to speak, involved a toy car appearing from a boy's bag and being pushed across the floor. What's a gathering of kids without a moving toy? I remain in awe of those who work with children in any capacity and manage to draw from them skills and coordinated efforts which normal humans couldn't possibly man- age. Coincidentally, the following day, I taught a national coaching program clinic. Part of the ice session at the end of the day included a bunch of six year olds I had to demonstrate activities with as 20 coaches looked on. I summoned every bit of my inner kid and for 40 minutes led them, like a chilled Pied Piper, through some games and exercises. Through it all I was replaying the professional direction exhibited by Kourkounakis the night before as she got her little ballet proteges to do, well, just about anything she asked. Even though I've done the on-ice thing hundreds of times myself, I'm still bent on stealing from the likes of her. They lined up when she asked; posed when she wanted a pose; hopped like mice when called upon; or marched like soldiers as the scene called for it. There were a couple of instances of supereon time between request and action, but not many. This just three weeks before the show with parents invited to watch and other performers warming up in the background for their scenes. Enough distractions for any little one. The Nutcracker is a seasonal joy and the music stunning. Watching the grasshoppers hop to Tchaikovsky will be the fun part. For more about Prima Dance Academy's production of The Nutcracker, see the feature on page 3. "Proud to be a Brooklinite" Founded in 2000 • Published 24 times annually Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: 905-655-7642 Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, December 15, 2017 Deadline: Friday,December 8, 2017 Watch for Local Holiday Greetings in the December 15th Brooklin Town Crier. Call today to place your greeting.