Nutcracker Santa Cruz: Experience the Magic!

Thanksgiving Weekend Sat Nov. 28 and Sun Nov 29, the International Academy of Dance and the Santa Cruz Dance Guild presents the full-length Nutcracker Ballet at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater.

What better way to bring in the season than with smiles, laughter and jumping for joy?

Nutcracker: Experience the Magic! is self-funded and created by local talent. Artistic Director and Juilliard Alumnae, Shannon Cullem-Chipman 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. She danced alongside Director/Choreographer, Vicki Bergland who was the Assistant Director of that original production. They have again combined their efforts with the stunning and talented choreographers, Melissa Palumbo and Michelle Bjorkman to reinvent the Nutcracker once again at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater. The SCDG/IAD production has become a steadfast holiday tradition.

Taking the stage this year, Jeff Stanton, a Santa Cruz Ballet legend, will bedazzle audiences as the mysterious Drosselmeyer. Stanton began his early training alongside Cullem-Chipman in Santa Cruz and went on to dance as soloist with the San Francisco Ballet and later became principal dancer at Pacific Northwest Ballet. Now the Ballet Master for the Oregon Ballet Theater, he comes home to share his passionate presence, exacting technique and bravado in the Nutcracker.

Additional guest artists include Brian Simcoe & Xuan Cheng, Principal Dancers of Oregon Ballet Theater as the Cavalier & Sugarplum Fairy. Santa Cruz native, Leila Drake of State Street Ballet dances the role of the Dewdrop Fairy. Leila is a former ballet student of Director, Vicki Bergland and also danced in the original Nutcracker. Talented and devoted dancers ages four through adult from our local community buzz with excitement, as they have the opportunity to dance alongside these accomplished professional ballet dancers.

Nutcracker: Experience the Magic! is an entertaining professional production and family affair. Generations of dancers dance together on-stage. Some children in the Party Scene share the stage with their parents as young soldiers and rats spar alongside adult soldiers and rats, with a few mother/daughter teams. Mother Ginger, who is in real life the mother of four, has 12 tiny Gingersnaps who escape from under her magnificent skirt. One of these cookies is her youngest daughter! Petite snowflakes flitter among fluttering snowflakes en pointe and the Arabian Princess gets ready backstage with her daughter, an Angel.

Each year there is something new to see! We invite you to experience Classical Ballet, enchanting choreography, magnificent Guest Artists, beautiful sets, brilliant costumes, family, tradition and the Joy of Dance at the Nutcracker! Experience the Magic! Affordable tickets the whole family will enjoy!

Nutcracker Santa Cruz at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater Thanksgiving Weekend Sat Nov. 28 and Sun Nov. 29 Performances at 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. both days.

Reserved seating. Order your tickets today at: www.NutcrackerSantaCruz.com

Children under three on your lap are FREE!

Nutcracker: Kick off the Holidays with Tradition & Family Fun! Join the festivities and kick off your family’s holiday traditions with the magical Nutcracker Ballet, a spectacular performance sure to delight and inspire!