In its 5th decade of performances, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, with live music by Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra, returns to present its enchanting rendition of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker. After selling out its 2013 and 2014 performances, the company announced its 2015 return to the Broad Stage at the Santa Monica Performing Arts Center, and will include a total of nine presentations scheduled from Nov. 28 to Dec.
Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s “The Nutcracker” features young dancers from the affiliated Westside School of Ballet, performing alongside acclaimed adult professional guest artists. Endearing children’s roles include party children, mice, and soldiers. The 2015 production also welcomes several new young male cast members from Westside School of Ballet’s Boys Division.
Martine Harley, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica artistic director says, “I am continually impressed by our students’ commitment to their ballet training — they are exceptional. They have an unsurpassed sense of teamwork, dedication and support for each other. I have held back tears as I watch our senior dancers work through what will be their last Nutcracker performances with us.”
Special effects include a growing Christmas tree, a firing cannon, and falling snow. The 2015 Snow Scene features enhanced choreography in the Snow Queen pas de deux and the corps de ballet sequences.
As featured in the Los Angeles Times, the artistic direction captures the spirit of the legendary George Balanchine, passed on by Westside’s founder, Yvonne Mounsey, who created the Nutcracker role of Center Spanish during the peak of her career as principal dancer with New York City Ballet.
Accompanied by Santa Monica College Symphony playing Tchaikovsky’s majestic score, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s The Nutcracker provides a perfect opportunity to introduce children to classical music and dance.
The Nutcracker will be performed with the Santa Monica College Symphony at the Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St, Santa Monica. Show dates and times: Nov. 28 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Nov. 29 at 11 a.m., Dec. 3 – 4 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 5 – 6 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. All tickets are $40. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westsideballet.com, or by phone (additional fees apply) at (800) 595 – 4849 (4TIX).
About Westside Ballet of Santa Monica
Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, a nonprofit organization, is one of the nation’s premier ballet training companies. This pre-professional company was created by Yvonne Mounsey (New York City Ballet) and Rosemary Valaire (Royal Ballet) in 1970.
The company provides the promising young dancers of the Westside School of Ballet the performance opportunities that are so vital to their growth — and makes dance more accessible to local children and families. Based in Santa Monica, California, Westside Ballet of Santa Monica comprises approximately 100 dancers, ages 8 to 18.
For more information, visit www.westsideballet.com