Nutcracker: Experience the Magic!

December 16 – 17

As the leaves deepen into beautiful fall colors, it is a true sign that winter is around the corner and with it… magic that only the Nutcracker Ballet can bring!

International Academy of Dance, home to the Santa Cruz City Ballet (SCCB) is buzzing with excitement, preparing for our favorite time of year! The SCCB full length Nutcracker is alive with innovative choreography, stunning dancers, beautiful sets and brilliant costumes.

With renowned music of Tchaikovsky’s original score set by the Moscow Symphony, this production has become an annual tradition, showcasing local dancers, as well guest artists from the Bay Area.

What better way to ring in the season than with smiles, beauty, laughter and cheer?

Join the festivities and kick off your holidays! Mark your calendar: Saturday and Sunday, December 16th & 17th at Cabrillo’s beautiful Crocker Theater, the premiere venue for dance in Santa Cruz County.

As opening night nears, the enchanting music of the Sugar Plum Fairy fills the studios of the International Academy of Dance, as talented and devoted artists practice, practice, practice. Mini mice, toy soldiers, gingersnaps and lambs rehearse attentively alongside superbly trained flowers, snowflakes and lead dancers to bring magic to the stage.

Each year, entire families pour their heart into the Nutcracker both on stage and off. Parents in the Party Scene dance alongside their children; even Clara’s mother on stage is also her mother in real life.

SCCB Artistic Director/Choreographer, Shannon Chipman, alumnae of the Juilliard School and Santa Cruz native, began the Nutcracker tradition as the Snow Queen in the first ever production of the Nutcracker in Santa Cruz at Cabrillo’s theater in 1988 under the tutelage of Jean Dunphy and Vicki Bergland. This year Shannon will be dancing the role of Dewdrop in the Waltz of the Flowers.

Since 2009, Miss Chipman has brought her vision to life with Co-Director/ Choreographer, Vicki Bergland. Chipman and Bergland combine their artistic efforts alongside Choreographer, Melissa Palumbo to once again bring the stunning Nutcracker Ballet at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater to life. Miss Palumbo brings the crowd to its feet with the electrifying, acrobatic Russian dance and delivers the story of the fight scene through her incomparable choreographic lens.

This year, cast members who first graced the stage in our premiere production in 2009, as a gingersnaps and lambs, have grown up with the production and will now be dancing featured roles en pointe!

For the second year in a row, Mother Ginger will be performed by Krazy George. You may know him as the inventor of “The Wave” or you may have seen him cheer for the San Jose Earthquakes or the Oakland A’s. Don’t miss this special opportunity to cheer on Krazy George and his team of adorable Gingersnaps! Every year there is something new to see!

We invite you to experience elegant, entertaining Classical Ballet and the Joy of Dance only SCCB can bring! Experience the Magic for yourself and dance along in the most comfortable theater seats in town.

From any vantage point in the Cabrillo Theater you will have a great view. There isn’t a bad seat in the house… and SCCB Nutcracker offers affordable tickets the whole family will enjoy!

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For tickets: http://nutcrackersantacruz.com or Crocker Theater, Cabrillo College Aptos, Box Office hours Thurs-Fri-Sat 12 – 6 p.m. • 831-479-6154 ($30/$35/$40)

Performances: Sat Dec 16 – 1:00 & 4:30 p.m. • Sun Dec 17 – 1:00 & 4:30 p.m. Crocker Theater Aptos

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Santa Cruz City Ballet is the ballet company of the Santa Cruz Dance Guild, a community based non-profit organization.