Presented by Equity Bank
Call it a dancer’s hat trick. When Whitney Huell laces up her ballet slippers for this year’s Nutcracker from the Kansas City Ballet, she will be dancing not one, not two, but three roles: Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen, and Rose. A member of the ballet since 2014, Huell says, “These challenging roles give me the opportunity to improve technically and artistically year to year.”
She’s also proud of being selected as a 2024 Arts/Entertainment Honoree for the Monument to Freedom, Justice and Courage, which honors those who have made significant contributions since the Civil Rights Movement in Jackson County.
Huell trained at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and attended Indiana University, earning a B.S. in Ballet and Psychology before joining Ballet West in Salt Lake City.
In 2018 she was featured as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Devon Carney’s production of The Nutcracker, becoming the first Black woman in KCB history to perform the role. In 2024 Huell participated in Pathways to Performance: Exercises in Reframing the Narrative, performing at The Kennedy Center and Jacob’s Pillow.
So, when the curtain goes up at the first performance of The Nutcracker on December 5, keep an eye out for multi-talented Huell.
You majored in both ballet and psychology at Indiana University. That’s an interesting combo! How do they mesh in your current life?
The ballet program at IU thoroughly prepared me for my career as a professional ballet dancer. The program had similar repertory and was scheduled in such a way that made transitioning into a professional ballet company somewhat seamless. My studies in psychology were very beneficial for my mental health and navigating the nonphysical aspects of the ballet world. Ballet is hard, not only physically but mentally, and my education has helped me navigate challenges and excel in my current life.
If you could wave a Sugar Plum Fairy wand, what role(s) would you love to dance and why?
I would love to dance the role of Kitri in Don Quixote. Her character is spirited and playful, with choreography filled with jumps and turns that are my personal favorite. It is a dream of mine to perform the leading principal role in a full-length ballet with multiple acts and Kitri would be the role to fulfill that dream.
In your ten years with the Kansas City Ballet, how do you think you’ve grown and developed as a dancer?
Kansas City Ballet has provided me with an environment to discover my dancing potential. In these ten years I have grown to become more aware of my body, which has helped me improve technically. This awareness has also aided in my performances, allowing me to approach roles, challenges, and opportunities with maturity.
When you’re not practicing or dancing, where do you like to go in Kansas City to hang out with friends?
I’ve been on the hunt for healthy-food options in Kansas City, so exploring restaurants is always on the to-do list with friends. As a recent homeowner, I hope to have friends over to hang out now that I have a place to entertain. My husband and I also love to go to the movies, where reclining chairs are a must.