For Maycie Simmons and Gracelyn Grijalva, stepping onto the stage for “Edmond’s Nutcracker” is more than a holiday tradition — it is a shared experience driven by discipline, storytelling and cultural pride.
The two Chickasaw ballerinas met through dance and now perform together annually with the Oklahoma Youth Ballet. Each year, “Edmond’s Nutcracker,” a classic rendition of the famous ballet performed for the Edmond community, provides the girls with an opportunity to showcase the dedication and discipline they bring to ballet as Chickasaw citizens.
The 2025 production of “Edmond’s Nutcracker” took place Dec. 6-7 and marked the Oklahoma Youth Ballet’s third annual production of the classic ballet. The production welcomes dancers of all ages to audition. Maycie and Gracelyn did not know each other two years ago but quickly became friends after Gracelyn auditioned for her first “Edmond’s Nutcracker” performance in 2024.
Maycie, 13, was cast in the lead role as Clara in the 2025 performance. She said learning she would portray the iconic character brought both excitement and a sense of responsibility.
“I was really excited and grateful,” she said. “Clara is such a special role, and I felt very honored that my artistic directors trusted me to be able to perform for the audience.”
Gracelyn, 12, took on two very different roles, performing as both a flower and a rat — an unexpected contrast she said was part of what made the experience so fun.
“I loved the rats, but I think the flower role was my favorite because of the choreography and all the costumes,” she said.
The two dancers rehearsed every Friday and Saturday from September until showtime to ace their roles. The girls said the performance was great, but performing together is what makes “Edmond’s Nutcracker” so special for them.
“Performing together feels really special,” Maycie said. “It’s something we look forward to every year, and it’s just an amazing experience.”
Gracelyn added to Maycie’s sentiment, saying the performance gives them the opportunity to highlight their talents as Chickasaw artists.
“I love that we get to be part of a larger tradition,” Gracelyn said.
Maycie has been dancing since she was four and has trained in the preprofessional program at the Oklahoma Youth Ballet since the age of 10. She dances six days a week for approximately six hours a day while completing online schooling, maintaining straight A’s and upholding her National Junior Honor Society membership.
“I manage my time very carefully, and I have a very put-together system of when I need to focus on my dancing, and then when I need to focus on my schoolwork and all the other things,” Maycie said.
She also assists in teaching younger dancers and volunteers with the Oklahoma Youth Arts Foundation.
“Giving back is important to me because I had amazing teachers and mentors who I looked up to, and I just feel like it’s such an amazing experience to feel that feeling of being looked up to from other kids,” she added.
Maycie said she sees a future in dancing and hopes to pursue a ballet career after high school graduation.
“I’m hoping that I can get into either Boston Ballet or New York City Ballet and be a part of their company. I just think it’d be such a fun experience to meet all these different people and to be a professional dancer,” she said.
Maycie hopes to honor her Chickasaw heritage as she works toward becoming a professional dancer.
“Being Chickasaw means honoring my culture, my family and the generations before me,” she said.
Gracelyn has danced at Lord of the Dance, LLC in Choctaw, Oklahoma, since she was 3 years old and has performed in “Edmond’s Nutcracker” for the past two years. She is homeschooled, earns straight A’s, volunteers with various organizations and teaches two younger dance classes at Lord of the Dance, LLC.
“The thing I enjoy most about helping younger dancers is being able to see their progress and help them achieve their goals,” Gracelyn said.
She also dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
“Hopefully I could go to a company someday and also take some classes at Oklahoma Dance Center,” she said.
Gracelyn said her Chickasaw identity deeply impacts how she approaches ballet.
“Our Chickasaw culture has a rich history of storytelling through dance,” she said. “I see myself creating that heritage in a modern way.”
Both girls continue to grow as dancers and as representatives of their community, carrying their traditions — and their heritage — with them as they take the stage each holiday season.