A Classic Tale, With a Twist: How Studio 3's 'Mixed Nuts' Became a New Kind of Holiday Tradition

In the early days of running Studio 3, a dance studio for children and adults in Bridgehampton, founder Diane Shumway had just a small group of dancers under her wing. She kept things simple, putting on only a few modest year-end performances and recitals.

Eventually, her students started asking about performing “The Nutcracker,” Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet and a staple in nearly every dance studio. That’s when Shumway decided to think outside the box.

“I thought, we could do ‘The Nutcracker,’ but it really leaves out half the kids who take all the other dance genres,” she said in a fall interview. “And I thought, why don’t we put together a show that incorporates jazz, hip hop and tap? ‘The Nutcracker,’ with a twist.”

That’s how “Mixed Nuts” was born. Studio 3 will present its 14th annual “Mixed Nuts” performances on Thursday, December 19, at 7 p.m. and on Friday, December 20, at 2 p.m. at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. The only year since 2011 that the show did not run was in 2020, during the pandemic.

Shumway did more than simply incorporate other dance disciplines into the traditional Nutcracker story. Each year, the studio chooses a different classic children’s tale or story as that year’s “mashup.” Past combinations have included “Cinderella,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Grinch,” and “Home Alone,” among others.

The first “Mixed Nuts” performance was in 2011 — the year the iPad debuted — and Shumway capitalized on the popular culture moment. The device became the stand-in for the Nutcracker in the classic tale, representing the highly coveted Christmas gift.

“I thought, why don’t we make the iPad the thing that the kids want to have?” she said. “It was very modern, and of the day, and it was a big hit. When next year came around, we asked ourselves, how can we switch it up? Every year we came up with a different mashup, and it became kind of fun.”

Shumway said her students are invited into the creative process and often provide ideas for each year’s mashup. The mashup story loosely informs the classical tale each year. The opening scene of “The Nutcracker” remains intact, but it takes place at the home of the main character from that year’s story. Last year, with “The Jungle Book” theme, the opening party scene took place in the jungle; during “The Grinch,” it was at Cindy Lou Hoo’s home. The role of the Rat King corresponds to the villain of that year’s tale.

“I get great ideas from them,” Shumway said. “I never want to repeat the story — I always want to make it fresh.”

That philosophy likely helped Studio 3 survive the pandemic while many other dance studios did not. Shumway noted that about a third of dance studios closed for good during that time. Enrollment dipped at Studio 3 as well, but she said the studio has now returned to prepandemic numbers. This fall, the studio celebrated a major milestone: 20 years in operation.

“Mixed Nuts” has played a big part in Studio 3’s success, but Shumway’s approach to teaching and running the business is equally crucial. Much like her inventive take on the holiday recital, her teaching style is a refreshing departure from the norm.

“I’m a recreational dance studio,” she said. “I had my formal training with a founding member of the Rockettes and danced my whole life, but I’m always upfront that this is a recreational studio. Most kids just want to dance for fun. There are some who are serious, and if they are, I’ll tell them to go to New York City if that’s truly what they want to do. The older I get, the more relaxed I am. Hey, this is fun. You’re kids, and you need to enjoy it and have fun.”

At 70, Shumway is beginning to consider what’s next for her and the studio. Her daughter, Meredith Shumway, worked closely with her from the start, but has scaled back in recent years due to the success of her own fitness business. Studio alumni Brooke Bierfriend and Mya Davis have stepped up to help lead. Bierfriend has “really taken the show by the horns this year,” developing many ideas, while Davis, who specializes in tap, lyrical, and jazz, has assumed more responsibilities alongside Bierfriend.

The transition bodes well for the future of the studio and the holiday tradition Shumway created nearly two decades ago. For the new generation, the excitement of “Mixed Nuts” remains strong.

“For me, as a dancer, it was always thrilling to hear what the theme was going to be each year,” Davis said, recalling the year she played Alice in “Alice in Wonderland.” “‘Mixed Nuts’ is special because ‘The Nutcracker’ is nostalgic, but putting a creative, fun, and edgy twist on it is amazing. It’s fun for the teachers, too — we get to think outside the box. It’s like a puzzle. Diane is incredible for creating this. As a kid, I didn’t realize how much planning goes into it. There are so many little details you wouldn’t think of. It’s been so much fun to be part of this and help put it together.”