When the curtain rises on Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker” this holiday season, a Riverview Junior High student will step into the spotlight to live out a dream years in the making. Thirteen-year-old Lily Dibb will play Clara, the wide-eyed girl whose imagination brings the classic ballet to life—a role Lily herself has imagined since she first laced up her ballet slippers at age 2.

Murray’s Lily Dibb will take on iconic role of Clara in Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker.” (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

 That happiness didn’t come without years of hard work. Lily spends about 12 to 15 hours each week in classes at the Utah Dance Institute. “I do ballet technique and pointe classes,” she explained. “I also take jazz and contemporary because that helps me become a stronger dancer overall.”

Her mother, Coreena Dibb, describes her daughter’s dedication simply: “She basically lives the dance. She’s never not dancing—even at home, she dances everywhere she goes.”

Lily’s path to the lead role began years ago with smaller parts in “The Nutcracker.” “I’ve tried out the past four years,” she said. 

Her first introduction to ballet came through a neighborhood dance class. “When she first started, she wouldn’t even get up during class,” Coreena said. “She just sat and watched for a month and a half. Then we bought her the costume, and she got up on stage and did the whole dance—having never practiced it in class. That’s when we knew she loved performing.”

That love for performance still drives Lily. “I like that ballet lets me tell a story,” she said. “There’s a lot of acting in the dancing—you have to show emotions like excitement, sadness or fear. I love that part of it.”

Between rehearsals, schoolwork and a full family life, Lily’s schedule is a balancing act. “I make sure I focus in class and get everything done then, so I don’t have to do it at home because I don’t have time,” she said.

Coreena said, “She’s not allowed to do all of this unless she keeps up her grades. But she loves school, so that helps.”

When she’s not rehearsing, she enjoys drawing and playing basketball with her three brothers. “I really like basketball,” she said. “Sometimes I even beat them.”

Getting to dance with Ballet West’s professional company has been a dream for Lily since she

Lily Dibb with her mother Coreena. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

  was little. “When I first did ‘The Nutcracker’ at my studio, I was an angel,” she remembered. “I would always look at the Clara offstage and think, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s so amazing—I want to be like her.’”

For Coreena, seeing her daughter achieve that dream was an emotional moment. “Honestly, I never knew if she’d actually get it,” she said. “Every year they pick four girls, and it’s hard when you’re from another studio. When she finally did, I was shocked—happy tears. I knew what it meant to her.”

The Dibbs say the production is a family commitment. “It’s a lot of extra time and a sacrifice for our whole family,” Coreena said. “We all have to adjust our schedules. But it’s worth it when you watch your child do something they absolutely love.”

Lily’s “Nutcracker” season will be busy: she will perform 11 shows, starting at Weber State’s Browning Center in Ogden before moving to Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre. “I’m the first Clara,” she said proudly. “There are four of us, and I get to do the opening cast.”

She’ll also perform in a special sensory-friendly show for children and adults with disabilities—something both she and her mom say they’re excited about.

Being Clara comes with long rehearsals and big responsibilities. “After school, I go to my studio for technique, then I usually have to leave early to go downtown for Ballet West rehearsal,” Lily said. “It’s usually one to three hours each time.”

Dancing alongside professional ballerinas has been both inspiring and intimidating. “It’s really fun, but it’s also kind of scary because you want to make a good impression,” she said. “Sometimes it’s stressful—but I like it.”

After four years of auditioning, Murray’s Lily Dibb wins the role of Ballet West’s Clara in “The Nutcracker.” (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

 Her favorite moment in “The Nutcracker?” “The party scene,” Lily said. “It’s the most fun because Clara’s the main part. But I also love sitting on the throne in the second act and watching the Sugar Plum Fairy dance.”

Beyond the barre, Lily’s artistic ambitions extend to acting and drawing. “I’ve been in all my school plays,” she said proudly. “I was Anna in ‘Frozen,’ Gertrude McFuzz in ‘Seussical,’ and Sharpay in ‘High School Musical.’ This year, I’m trying out for ‘Alice in Wonderland.’”

Her mother isn’t surprised by her daughter’s range of talents. “She has a lot of artistic gifts—drawing, acting, dancing. It’s hard for her to pick just one thing because she loves them all.”

Asked about her future, Lily smiled thoughtfully. “I’d like to be a professional dancer,” she said. “Or maybe an artist—or an actor. Maybe I’ll go to Juilliard or the Joffrey Ballet School someday.”

For now, though, she’s focused on savoring her time as Clara—and giving others the same chance one day. “A lot of girls get to be Clara year after year,” Lily said. “I think once you get it, you’ve had your dream. Other girls should get that chance too.”

Her mother agrees. “What’s been amazing to watch is how humble she’s become. She knows how it feels to be disappointed, so she’s kind and supportive to others. She’s growing not just as a dancer, but as a person.”

Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker” runs from Nov. 28 through Dec. 27. Tickets are available at balletwest.org.