Sophie Hayward

En Pointe

photos by PAUL NURNBERG

When Sophie Hayward was two, her parents signed her up for ballet classes. It was partly because she always wanted to do what her big sister, Ella, was doing, but mostly because she walked everywhere on her toes and loved to dance. As she got a little older, her activities were split between the dance studio and the soccer field (as it turns out, dance promotes incredible strength and precision, both of which are beneficial on the pitch). Eventually, she decided to take a break from dance and join Ella on the soccer field. Little did she know that Ms. Melissa had other plans for her.

Melissa Derrick, owner of Derrick Ballet Conservatory (DBC), started teaching Sophie at age 6. She understood her young dancer’s decision to take a break but wanted her back. So, in 2013, Sophie, now 8, was with her mom at a stop light in Beaufort, minding her own business, when she heard a familiar voice coming from the car next door. They looked over to see Ms. Melissa waving at them and yelling, “Sophie, you have to come back to dance! You’re so good at it!” If you know Melissa, this does not surprise you at all. That chance encounter between Sophie and Melissa rekindled Sophie’s passion for ballet and helped create a beautiful relationship between a student and her teacher that would help her become the person she is today.

Now 18 and a senior at John Paul II, Sophie has spent thousands of hours dancing and working with Melissa, who has molded her into a disciplined, graceful, and poised artist. Melissa’s love and commitment to classic ballet has helped Sophie to not only become an accomplished ballerina but also a gifted dance teacher and role model. Their bond is one of love and respect, and it is hard for both to believe it is Sophie’s final year as she prepares to leave for college.

The Nutcracker
As the weather changes and fall draws near, Melissa and Sophie are preparing for the much-anticipated holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Melissa is the Artistic Director of the Beaufort Community Nutcracker, which is in its fourth year and showcases over ninety-eight local dancers ages 5 to 75, including three professional dancers from Charleston, New York, and Brazil. Sophie has performed all four years in multiple roles. Her hard work and dedication have helped her land a lead role for the second year in a row as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

As one could imagine, a production like The Nutcracker requires the help of many people. The Beaufort Community Nutcracker is a nonprofit governed by a board of directors and supported by hundreds of volunteer hours.

“I couldn’t do The Nutcracker without community support,” says Melissa, the production’s founder and director. Open tryouts were in May for the November 18-19 performance. “Tryouts are open to all dancers. We even have a professional dancer from Brazil. We work very hard to make it better each year,” she says. “What fun to have the cutest little kids grow and witness high school seniors who’ve spent countless hours making it look easy. They learn so much from each other, and we are so lucky to have dancers like Sophie to set a good example for our young dancers.”

As the name suggests, Beaufort’s Nutcracker performances are a community event. In addition to the young dancers and small cadre of professionals who make up the bulk of the cast, supporting roles are filled by enthusiastic adults, several of whom have performed in every show produced.

The Nutcracker is enjoyed by audiences all over the world. From the incredible costumes to the most popular ballet music ever composed, it’s an unforgettable performance for anyone to witness. And to perform in this beautiful ballet is an opportunity that these dancers will not forget.

“When you’re on stage, and the curtains open … it’s just surreal,” Sophie says of her role as Sugar Plum Fairy. “We all put in so many hours of rehearsal, but when it all comes together, it’s such a great feeling. We’re like a family, and we support each other. It’s hard work but so worth it. “

You just can’t truly appreciate how difficult ballet is unless you’ve done it yourself. Ballet requires incredible strength, precision, and dedication — all while wearing what are probably the most uncomfortable shoes on earth! But those pointe shoes are what elevates the dance and the dancer to perform at the highest level. Ballerinas make the most difficult moves look effortless. It is a sport like no other.

Family
When DBC opened its doors on May 14, 2019, with twenty-two kids, the dream was born; the rest is history. Over a short period of time, Melissa Derrick, a Brazilian-trained ballet dancer and accomplished choreographer who had been teaching in the area for fifteen years prior to opening DBC, now had an opportunity to share her passion for classical ballet. A stream of bright-eyed kids showed up, eager to learn. Now a mature program with ages ranging from 3 to 18, DBC provides a variety of classes and dance genres as well as a dedicated competition team and annual performances. The Nutcracker is one of those performances, showcasing many of the hardworking DBC kids, like Sophie and the dedicated families who support them.

“I love to watch her dance,” chimed in Sophie’s proud dad, Marc Hayward, “Ballet has certainly physically honed her into the accomplished athlete she is. Perhaps more importantly, Melissa has been able to develop her strength of character and extraordinary work ethic, which will serve her well wherever her future may take her.” Marc has undoubtedly embraced the nomenclature of “Dance Dad,” returning to perform in his own Nutcracker role as Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara’s mystical uncle, the architect of her magical adventure. “It is definitely bittersweet,” continued Marc, with Sophie graduating from high school this spring and heading off to college. This is likely to be his last year in the cast. “The Nutcracker has been a wonderful opportunity to share an experience with my daughter that is so important to her, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, not just with Sophie but also with every other member of this phenomenal cast and crew.”

From Sophie’s traffic-light crossroads decision to now, she appreciates her parents’ involvement in her dance life and suggests it’s been an “inspiration.” In a more behind-the-scenes role, her mom, Jody, has served on the Nutcracker Board since the beginning. She helped form the Beaufort Community Nutcracker as a nonprofit and helps in a variety of ways, including costuming and fundraising. One unique fundraiser she helps with is creating and selling amazing pointe shoes that are decorated like the costumes in The Nutcracker. Like so many other volunteers, she does whatever needs to be done to support the production.

“The work that goes into this production is incredible,” Jody says, “I’m just blown away at the quality and attention to detail. So many people and families volunteer to make it all work. I think it has been a wonderful experience for Sophie. She’s a beautiful person and I’m so proud to be her mom.”

This is Sophie’s senior year, but hopefully not her last Nutcracker. Although Sophie is nudging toward a medical pursuit, Melissa does not doubt that her years of dance will help her succeed. “My relationship with Sophie grew over the past twelve years, and now she is not only an accomplished dancer but also a teacher at DBC. It is hard for both of us to see her days in the studio ending, but she knows she always has a place to return to because we will always be here for her.”

Performance dates:
Saturday, November 18, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m.
Beaufort High School Performing Arts Center
84 Sea Island Pkwy, Beaufort, SC
Click here to purchase tickets