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This year’s Green Cup Challenge, the annual interscholastic competition to reduce energy consumption and spread environmental awareness, began on January 21st. By now, most members of the Deerfield community are familiar with this challenge, particularly with the more prominent inter-dorm aspect of the competition. But is the Green Cup truly effective in meeting its goals? Undoubtedly, the challenge has produced positive results every year Deerfield has participated. The success of each school is measured in kilowatt hours of electricity reduced from last year per person, based on the total energy used on campus. Last year we came in 18 th place out of more than 50 schools, saving more than $6,000 in energy costs. In recent years, increased competition, such as last year’s challenge with NMH and Choate, has spurred higher success levels in the challenge at Deerfield. The main goal of Deerfield’s continual participation in the competition is to get students committed and excited about saving energy. Lauren Veit, a science teacher and leader in the environmental initiative on campus, hopes that “the Green Cup Challenge helps with raising awareness about the importance of sustainability,” and that “we can cultivate a student body that is more committed to saving the environment.” However, there are rather contentious aspects to this competition as well. According to environmental proctor Charlotte McLaughry ’11, the Green Cup Challenge takes only electricity consumption into consideration. Therefore, other factors such as oil and natural gas consumption, water use and recycling efforts, which contribute enormously to overall carbon consumption, are disregarded in the challenge. Although, according to science teacher and environmental leader Brian Fry, Deerfield has the capabilities to measure some of these factors, some of the other schools in the competition do not, and thus only electricity reduction is widely promoted during the challenge. Additionally, the Green Cup Challenge only lasts roughly a month, from January 21 to February 24. Despite being the most widely-known environmental initiative on campus, it represents only about one eighth of the school year. Despite the hard work of the environmental proctors, many students don’t place a high priority on living sustainably outside of the Green Cup Challenge. Clearly, the Green Cup Challenge is effective in reducing energy consumption, but some fear that when the challenge is over, many students will reassume their old habits of leaving lights and music on or computer and cell phone chargers plugged in out of convenience. This is something with which many proponents of sustainability on campus struggle. “I wish that there were ways to encourage people to live sustainably all the time as well as during the Green Cup Challenge,” McLaughry said. “It’s easy to forget that something as simple as turning off a switch can save energy and money. If every student does something, that is definitely going to make a difference,” noted Mr. Fry.

Each year in the month of January, the student body gathers in the large auditorium in remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr.Conceived in 1997, the event continues to change every year. Before 1997, DA had never formally recognized the day as a time for reflection.A student-led teach-in protest in 1996 proposed that the school create an official event. “Students decided that [a regular class day] wasn’t sufficient and that we should do more to recognize the significance of MLK Day,” said English teacher Mark Scandling. The MLK Day faculty committee, with guidance from the Diversity Task Force, has been in charge of the day since its inception. Throughout the years, they have approached the format and content of the day from many different directions. “The pattern has gone back and forth; confront the issues that divide us versus celebrate the issues that unify us,” said Mr. Scandling. The 2011 MLK Day marked another approach to the still-evolving day. Tarah Greenidge, the new head of the Multicultural and Diversity Office, worked closely with students and the DTF to gather their opinions. Ms. Greenidge said she wanted to “make a day where people didn’t feel preached or lectured at and were really able to live up to Dr. King’s legacy, which was about building community and helping one another.” Tatiana Soto ’11, as president of the DTF, worked to achieve an MLK day assembly that appealed to the student body. “I’ve seen in the past few years how unresponsive people are to the day, and I was in a position to change that,” she said. The most significant change was the addition of musical group “At the Table with Dr. King,” which replaced the traditional speaker role. Ms. Greenridge and Soto discovered the group at the People of Color Conference in San Diego, California. Rose Fisher ’13 commented, “I thought they were fascinating. This year’s MLK day was a much more youth-centric approach.” The new format of the discussion groups also encouraged the students to become more active participants within their groups. “I found from personal experience that people end up in awkward situations [in the old format], and if we made them all the same, everyone had something to relate to at the end of the day,” said Soto. Other students agreed, including Emily Ng ’14, who said, “I liked the fact that I was able to express my opinion without feeling pressured to conform.” Eleanor Parker ’11 commented, “The day provided a good opportunity not only to consider Dr. King’s contributions but to appreciate the talents and reflections of our own student body. It’s always fun to end an assembly on our feet!”

What do a bookshop, Deerfield Academy, and DePaul University have in common? They share award-winning novelist Hannah Pittard ’97, whose new novel The Fates Will Find Their Way has received praise from many prestigious publications such as McSweeney’s , The Oxford American , Story Quarterly , and Nimrod . Recognized in 2008 Best Short Stories’ 100 Distinguished Stories, Ms. Pittard was also the recipient of the 2006 Amanda Davis Highwire Fiction Award. “ The Fates Will Find Their Way is a story about the stories we tell ourselves—of who we once were and may someday become,” according to the Harper Collins website. The novel tells the story of Nora, a sixteen-year-old girl who has gone missing. Told in the disembodied plural voice of the boys she left behind, the story follows Nora’s haunted sister and others she once knew. As years go by without Nora, the people who loved her have no choice but to grow up and continue their lives without her. On February 11, Hannah Pittard will appear at The Odyssey bookshop in South Hadley, where her book is one sale. Along with another author, she will be reading an excerpt from her novel and answering questions. Hannah Pittard is currently teaching fiction at DePaul University, in Chicago, Illinois. Sources: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Fates-Will-Find-Their-Way-Hannah-Pittard/?isbn=9780061996054 http://www.harpercollins.com/Author/Tour.aspx?authorID=37005

Eliza Moore ’97 led the school in a rousing spiritual song at a recent school meeting in one of many exercises she conducted as spiritual artist in resident this January. Ms. Moore came to Deerfield as a new senior in the early years of co-education. Though she only spent a short time here, Ms. Moore came away with a great love for the school. Considered a spiritual artist, she works to incorporate her beliefs into her lifestyle and teach them to others in the form of music or yoga. Wishing to see how the school had progressed since her time here, Ms. Moore contacted Dean of Ethical and Spiritual Life Jan Flaska and expressed her thoughts that she might have something to offer to the student body. For six days she conducted nighttime workshops and attended classes, along with her performance at school meeting. Mr. Flaska thought the visit was “very successful.” Eliza Moore herself thought the students were receptive to her ideas about spirituality and enjoyed working with them. In the wake of Ms. Moore’s departure, students undertook initiatives to bring similar mentors and motivators to Deerfield in the future. Currently, for those interested in exploring spirituality, there is a Zazen meditation class centered on prayer practice, and the promise of more spiritual artists to come.

While for some students it only represents the deepest winter month, January represents a significant event for seniors: Pathways. This annual program allows seniors to learn about fields of interest for the future, connects alumni to Deerfield, and develops ties between students and alumni. Each year, a unique group of ten alumni return to talk to seniors about the paths they have taken in their post-Deerfield lives. This year’s speakers represent a wide variety of interesting career fields, from working within the government’s homeland security program (Matt King ’77) to activism against human trafficking (Emily Pataki ’97). Other members of the 2011 Pathways program are: Sara di Bonaventura ’01, a students’ support coordinator for a high school in Boston. Ana Edwin ’02, a human resources analyst for Goldman Sachs. Andy Ling ’77, who specializes in copyright and intellectual property. George Mesires ’87, a partner at Ungaretti & Harris LLP who specializes in corporate restructuring and bankruptcy. Dave Miller ’97, a financial investor. Ayr Muir ’96, CEO of Clover Fast Food, Inc. Meg Nolan ’97, a published young adult author and travel journalist, and Richard Prum ’79, a professor of ornithology at Yale. According to Director of Alumni Relations Mimi Morsman, who is in charge of the Pathways program in conjunction with the 2011 Pathways Committee, the program has two main goals: “Connecting alumni to Deerfield and connecting students to alumni.” Another goal of the program is to show seniors that the path to success is not always straight and easy. Every year, the program tries to bring in alumni who found their callings after initial uncertainty. Andy Ling, a popular returning Pathways speaker from last year, talked about this issue in an emailed response to the Scrol l. “I didn’t physically develop until college,” said Mr. Ling. “Then, my martial arts and Olympic training took off, and I met people from all over the world, incorporating a training regimen, which helps me today with my personal and professional life.” Based on his experience, Mr. Ling “supports a liberal arts education rather than focusing on a certain discipline,” and believes that all a person needs to succeed are the three fundamental areas: “Research, writing, and analysis.” Matt King, another participating alumnus, echoed Mr. Ling’s sentiments. Mr. King plans to talk about his “life as a Special Agent” and life of service for the government, but he also had no idea that his life would take this course after majoring in English literature at Wesleyan. Despite not having his career planned upon his high school graduation, Mr. King’s experience at Deerfield played a large role in shaping his future. “I credit DA for my work ethic, my sense of camaraderie, my intense pride in belonging to a larger whole.” “Deerfield also let me explore boundaries and gave me the latitude to find myself,” reflected Mr. King. In the upcoming month, seniors will pick their preferences for which seminars they would like to attend. Each senior will attend two seminars and then attend a brunch where students and alumni can meet on a more personal level. “If there’s one senior who connects with one alumni, it’s a great success,” said Mrs. Morsman.

For several members of the IT and Communications Departments, July marked the laborious final stretch in their summer project. By the month’s close, they had completed a brand new DANet website, made available to the community during the fall term. Only minutes on the site make clear the extent of the makeover. Because the old site was built on aged coding, it was difficult to simply plug in code for easy fixes. For that reason, Mr. Thiel said, “We had to completely replace the underlying technology.” But for the amount of work involved, the project had surprisingly humble origins. Work first began in the spring of last school year, when Anna Newman, a new IT employee, joined the Communications department. “Within days, I realized Ms. Newman had a lot more technical skills than I had expected,” Mr. Thiel said. On a whim, Mr. Thiel decided to start work on a new DAnet with the assistance of the communications department and Ms. Newman’s talent. At first, there were no expectations – there had been no plans for a site makeover. “It was decided that if we got a little into it, and it became too tough, we’d forget about it,” Mr. Thiel explained. And there was good reason to be hesitant. Much would have to be accomplished in short time, with limited resources. The old DAnet contained a laundry list of problems requiring attention. It lacked a search function and multi-level navigation, and many of its components, such as the “Organizations” feature, had fallen into disrepair. They made these repairs and additions in impressive time, completing the site at July’s end. The final product represented a staggering improvement. Unlike its predecessor, edits and additions to the new site take minutes. “We can install any plug-in for any function whatsoever within seconds,” Mr. Thiel said. Perhaps most notable about the new version, however, is that it is open to contribution directly from the community. “The old site was almost a single feed,” Mr. Thiel explained. But with its makeover, any community member can post an item without having to go through the old multi-step process. The lost and found is created completely by direct community input. When the site made its debut in October, it was met with mixed reception. “I don’t really like the change,” Grace Mermel ’12 offered, a reflection of the sentiment held by some students across campus. However, response has grown increasingly positive as students have begun to grasp how much the new website has to offer. Justin Schlacks ’13 voiced his support: “The navigation is easier, and it just looks cleaner.” “It’s just really easy on the eyes,” said Kelvin Chang ’12 It is early, but as more students discover all the new site has to offer, it is increasingly clear that it will stand the test of time.

Most teams aim for a winning record, a spot in the New England tournament, and a fun season. But the Deerfield girl’s squash team sets the bar much higher—they plan on complete and utter domination. “Our ladder is stacked with so many skilled players that it will be hard for many teams to beat us, so our goals are winning New Englands and placing top 5 at National’s,” shared Nina Kempner ’11, who has been on the team since her freshman year. These goals may seem lofty and overly ambitious to some, but for those who know the girls’ squash team, these goals are very obtainable. The majority of the girls play squash over the summer, and many have also already been attending long, intense practices several times a week on top of playing another sport this fall, just to get back into shape for the season. Last season, the girls finished third in New England, and, with new and extremely talented additions to the team, Addie Fulton ’14 and Hunter Sechrest ’13, they plan to finish first this year. “Our team this year has so much depth, which is what sets us apart from other teams. The new girls are all so much fun and so talented, and it is really important that we build a strong young team because next year we are losing so many seniors. Everyone is just so upbeat and excited for the season. We all want to win New Englands so badly; it will definitely make everyone work even harder,” said Emily Jones ’13, a sophomore who played in the number three spot on the team last year. And work hard they must if they want to take the New England title from GA, who has won that and the national title for as long as most can remember, and also just recently narrowly defeated the girls 4-3. Adds a determined Charlotte Dewey ’11, who is a co-captain this season and is a four year team member, “Something that is really going to help us this year is that our whole team is very equal in skill, which will be great in practices because we will be able to challenge each other. It also means our ladder is very interchangeable which is an awesome quality for a squash team to have.” Coach Karinne Heise agreed with Dewey in saying, “I think to achieve those goals we need to emphasize team performance—by recognizing that individual matches are important because they contribute to the team score. Individual players need to strive for excellence to promote the team effort and team excellence.” Neither Dewey nor Kempner can believe that this is their fourth and final year on the team, and Dewey concludes, “I’m so excited for this team and to do well. I think we’re going to have such a great season, and that will make it a perfect way to end all of the other seniors and my Deerfield squash careers.” Ms. Heise described a remarkably strong group of seniors to lead the way. “I’m counting on all of the seniors to be great role models and provide support for all of their younger teammates.” With a large group of excited and skilled underclassmen to follow, it seems as if this final season for the girls of 2011 could very well be their most successful ever.

Inspired by Ben Skinner, a recent Amnesty-sponsored speaker, modern-day anti-slavery activist, the club is pursuing fair trade alternatives on campus. One of Amnesty’s first goals is to substitute the coffee in the Koch Center with a completely fair trade version. “We have contacted Dean’s Beans, a fair trade coffee distributor,” said Amnesty head KG Kaelin ’11. Dean’s Beans is a local company that provides organic and fair trade coffee, and already supplies the coffee in the dining hall. According to its website, Green Mountain Coffee, the main provider of the Koch Center coffee, attempts to uphold a fair trade commitment, but the New York Times reported that only 30% of the company’s coffee is actually fair trade, compared to 100% for Dean’s Beans. Kaelin went on to explain the importance of fair trade. “Often, the coffee we consume is a function of human trafficking or other forms of labor exploitation. Making the conscious decision to consume fair trade coffee, in turn, is indicative of a greater consciousness of one’s impact as a consumer.” Joel Thomas-Adams, English teacher and the faculty advisor for Amnesty, said that “many schools we are compared to have already made the switch” to fair trade and environmentally friendly products and Deerfield is well on the way to following suit. The club also hopes to evaluate the sustainability of the Keurig K-Cups currently in the Koch Center and possibly revive the use of coffee pots as a more environmentally-friendly option. Amnesty also looked to take advantage of the recent dining hall survey by giving feedback regarding the use of ethical and sustainable food products on campus. “We should care about where our products come from,” said Mr. Thomas-Adams. “Deerfield strives to be an ethical community,” said Mr. Thomas-Adams, and “an ‘ethical community’ acts in concretely ethical ways. Therefore, one of Amnesty’s goals is to make the ‘ethical community’ a reality in terms of what we buy and what we consume.” Spurred on by Skinner to further combat modern-day slavery, the Amnesty group will continue to write letters to a Massachusetts senator. “We wrote, signed, and sent letters to Senator John Kerry, urging him to reconsider anti-slavery legislation in Massachusetts, one of the only states without any kind of anti-slavery law,” explained member Anna Gonzales ’12. Amnesty screened a documentary on human trafficking to continue the discussion Skinner sparked on the topic of slavery and labor exploitation on December 7. In the immediate future, Amnesty looks to bring Dean Cycon of Dean’s Beans to campus to speak to students about the significance of fair trade. Gonzales concluded, “Across the political spectrum, basic human rights are something anyone can agree upon, and that’s what Amnesty is all about.” For Additional Information: www.deansbeans.com www.greenmountaincoffee.com

An annual Thanksgiving tradition in my family is to gather together to watch the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life . This year I thought to myself that Bedford Falls, the movie’s setting, could have been modeled on any one of a number of places in western Massachusetts. The small-town loyalties, dreams, and struggles exhibited by the unforgettable characters who lived in Bedford Falls during the great depression probably mirror the experiences of many citizens in Franklin County enduring today’s Great Recession. In hard times people have to count on the kindness of neighbors and the generosity of others. Giving rather than receiving was the message that Clarence the angel brought to the Savings & Loans owner George Bailey, contemplating suicide, who had managed to keep the village together. But in the 65 years since this movie’s creation, Americans have become obsessed with acquiring things. The message to “shop till you drop” starts during Thanksgiving weekend, if not before. Ironically, this year my family watched It’s a Wonderful Life on the eve of “Black Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving, supposedly the most important shopping day of the year. Our local news channels and stations, e-mails, and phones were besieged with frantic and exaggerated offers of huge opportunities if only we would rise at 5 a.m. and stand in line, positioned to pull out our credit cards and spend. Somehow the whole transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas and Hannukah seems to have cheapened in the process. The siren calls of “sales” and “bargains” affect us all in these hard economic times. At one point I found myself panicking. Maybe these offers really were just too good to pass up. So I waited in line at the Apple Store in the mall instead of spending an afternoon baking sugar cookies with my grandmother. Later, munching on one of those cookies by the fire, I thought again about what constitutes a wonderful life, or even a wonderful holiday season. Who can forget Clarence, who finally gets his angel wings by helping everyone in the community realize that the true gift of Christmas is found in relationships and in putting others’ needs first? My mind raced back to those other classic holiday tales of my childhood: Little Cindy Loo-Hoo shows the Grinch that friendship is richer than presents; Rudolph saves the day despite being “different”—indeed, it is his being different that proves to be the saving grace. These may be corny, old-fashioned stories, but they endure across generations because they illustrate the enormous capacity—and fragility—of the human spirit. So what are the gifts and traditions that really matter for us at Deerfield? For me, it is a former coach who emails and calls me from across the country with words of friendship or advice for a difficult situation. It is the friend with hours of homework left who still visits me at the Health Center. It is the friendly conversation I have with the woman who takes such good care cleaning our dorm. It is the sit-down meal when a student or teacher I barely know recognizes that I have had a bad day and tries to make me laugh. These may be little moments of kindness and connection, but to me, they are big; I suspect it is the same for all of us. What about the world just outside our fortunate gates? Franklin County is the poorest county in Massachusetts. All around us are families struggling and children who will never have the opportunities that we have. We look forward to this time between Thanksgiving and Christmas because of the Semi-Formal dance, a break from exams or midterms, and the fun plans we are making for our holiday break with friends and family. We have all worked hard and may deserve this, but in the meantime, many others are wondering how to put food on the table or pay for winter boots. The Deerfield community has always reached out—just think about all those smiling faces waiting for the Little Brothers and Little Sisters to visit each week—but maybe this year we can find additional ways to earn our own angel wings. Black Friday? It is now behind us. Ahead lie weeks of holiday merriment and the chances to act on our better impulses. Donate to a Food Bank in Greenfield or write a personal note of thanks to someone in our Deerfield community. Small acts of kindness and generosity add up when everyone contributes. So here’s to giving more than getting this holiday season. As for me, I am swearing off the mall when I get home. I have already set a date to bake with my grandmother.

Although hearing of serious theft on campus is rare, a total of about $200 was stolen this fall from Quinn Morris ’14. “Money was taken from me on two different occasions. One set was definitely lifted from my room, while the other one may have been from a locker,” said Morris. The Deerfield Academy Safety and Security Department promptly addressed the theft. Up and about on campus 24/7, Security responds to issues ranging from medical emergencies and alarms to lockouts and fire-code inspections. Because ours is an open campus, they “always try to prepare so nothing bad ever happens,” said Director of Safety and Security David Gendron. “As far as I’m concerned, we have one of the best security departments of any private schools.” The department consists of five full time officers: Mr. Gendron, Thomas Burgess, Matt Tirrell, Nathan Gray, and Jeannine Bonnayer, as well as seven part time officers who are called in for special events such as home sports games or Parents’ Weekend. Mr. Gendron said, “Every officer knows CPR and can respond to any medical emergency…most have had previous law enforcement experience.” The officers always work hard to keep campus safe. At night, they activate alarms and lock buildings, and during the day they are on patrol to make sure that the campus stays safe and that no harm comes to anyone. The number for Security is on the back of every Greer card, if ever a student should need help. Theft has been the most common type of crime on campus. Most dorms experience the almost yearly example of the refrigerator thief on a specific hall. Despite labels and “do not eat” signs, students often find a portion or all of their food missing. “I think that people need to take it upon themselves not to steal each other’s food because we need trust within the halls on campus. Students should feel secure about having food in a refrigerator that they share with their hall mates,” commented Lydie Blundon ’11. Theft can also be masked by the “friendship rules” to which students are now accustomed. Girls have found various articles of clothing missing from their closets without notice only to see a friend wearing it later. Sharing clothes seems to be accepted on campus but the borrower must remember to consult the owner of the clothes in question. “Since it’s your friends, you have trust in them to bring it back. As long as you ask, I’m alright,” said sophomore Olivia Mosley. This trend is unfortunately gaining momentum this year in comparison to the past, but with the help of the Security department and our community’s dedication to trust, the thefts will no doubt end soon.

Hockey is fast, physical, and gritty, requiring skill and a dogmatic determination. Science teacher Brian Fry fulfills all of these qualities, making him a good player, a good coach, and a great addition to Deerfield. Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mr. Fry graduated from The Hotchkiss School in 2006. An avid football, tennis and hockey player, Mr. Fry was a devoted athlete. Hockey, however, was what pushed him from Colorado to Lakeville, Connecticut. “I was missing too much school for hockey,” said Fry, “My mom, scared that I would go to Juniors and devote my adolescent life to hockey, showed me Hotchkiss.” After three years at Hotchkiss, Mr. Fry enrolled at Bowdoin College and played hockey for the Polar Bears. His freshman year, Mr. Fry came to know one of the senior players well: history teacher and assistant hockey coach Timothy McVaugh. “Mr. McVaugh was someone I looked up to. He was a good role model and showed me what it meant to be a Bowdoin hockey player,” said Mr. Fry. While only skating with Mr. McVaugh for one year, Mr. Fry or “BryFry,”as he was commonly know at Bowdoin, had no idea that he would see his old friend and teammate Mr. McVaugh so much more after college. After graduating from Bowdoin and earning his major in Economics, Mr. Fry was on the brink of something new. “I didn’t really know what to do coming out of Bowdoin, but teaching and coaching seemed like a really good start.” After three years of boarding school, Mr. Fry now returns, only this time to Deerfield, to teach science and coach varsity hockey. Although he expected something new and different, he didn’t expect to see his old friend, Tim McVaugh in this new career. Now, both are coaching boys’ varsity hockey, imparting their vast knowledge of the game on the team. His looming physical presence coupled with his enthusiasm for sports and a willingness to better those around him, not to mention his good looks, makes Mr. Fry perfect for Deerfield Academy.

Sugarplum fairies, fake snow, and candy cane dancers. What would the holiday season be without The Nutcracker ? With the advent of the holiday season, The Academy of Music in Northampton performed T he Nutcracker ballet , starring Alaina Belanger ’12, member of the Deerfield Advanced Dance Ensemble. For many classically trained dancers, The Nutracker is an annual event and a highlight of their year. “Performing in The Nutcracker is something I’ve done since I was cast as a reindeer at five years old,” Belanger recalled, now dancing in the show for her eleventh year. After so many years, it has become a defining aspect of the holiday season to Belanger, who said, “My first two years at Deerfield I didn’t perform in the Nutcracker, and the holidays just didn’t seem the same.” Aside from the graceful Pioneer Valley ballerinas, the creative sets brought The Nutcracker world to life. Belanger raved about the scenery and special effects: “In the battle scene there is a growing Christmas tree and a cannon blast. I also get to dance out from underneath the dragon in the Chinese scene. “But my favorite scene is Snow. It has realistic looking snow, and that sets the mood for the dance. Even if my feet are burning from dancing on point for hours, I can’t help but smile when I see the snow start to fall.” Behind the curtain, dancers dedicated much time and effort to the production. In fact, Belanger dedicated eight hours weekly in the span of two days each week. She admitted the schedule was rigorous, explaining, “I had Nutcracker rehearsals from 6:00-8:00 on Friday nights and 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Balancing all those rehearsals and school work was a challenge, but it was definitely worth it when I first waltzed onto the stage.” The dancer opened up about her love for the performance. “ Something about hearing the music of The Nutcracker is always exciting to me. I am almost positive I could hum the entire ballet and never get sick of it. It’s always the best way to get into the holiday spirit,” Belanger said. Her commitment and passion certainly showed in her outstanding performance! This was the thirty-second year the Pioneer Valley Ballet brought the timeless, dream-like Christmas tale to life through classical ballet. This year’s performances lasted from December 10 th to December 12 th .