Now through December 23rd, savor the magic of the holidays with a timeless ballet performance at Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego.
City Ballet of San Diego’s award-winning production of The Nutcracker has been voted San Diego’s Best Nutcracker Production by the “Tommy Awards.” It is an elaborate and elegant production with exquisite costumes and scenery, and viewers will be delighted by the attention to detail in the choreography, costuming, and music. The ballet is accompanied by the talented City Ballet Orchestra and Chorus, who perform at stage level so that viewers can also enjoy watching the musicians play Tchaikovsky’s familiar score.
The Nutcracker ballet takes its audience on Clara’s magical journey from her fun-filled family Christmas party where toy soldiers and mice become life-sized, to the enchanted Snow Forest, and on to the Land of Sweets where she is welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavalier, and magical performances from dancers around the world.
This past weekend, I took my four-year-old daughter with me to enjoy a matinee performance of The Nutcracker. The production had just opened the night before, but local Coronado dancer Madison Steel told me that the dancers had been putting in three- to four-hour daily rehearsals for weeks leading up to the performances. Their hard work was evident as we watched the dancers leap and spin across the stage. The professional company executed their steps with flawless precision that drew claps and cheers from the crowd. Meanwhile, the young students in City Ballet’s school fascinated their peers in the audience as they tussled in the Party Scene, danced beautifully in the Land of Sweets, and twirled in falling snowflakes in the Snow Forest.
Especially sweet was the Mother Ginger and Her Children Scene, always sure to draw some chuckles. Ten youngsters popped out from under the huge hooped skirt of their “mother,” and then the tiny dancers performed their choreographed performance with general perfection but some forgotten steps, overall charming the audience and bringing smiles to every face.
Following the matinee performance, members of the cast gathered in the lobby to greet audience members and pose for photos, a moment that left my daughter with eyes as wide as saucers, awed and amazed to see Clara and the Nutcracker right before her in the flesh.
This heart-warming production is the perfect way for families to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. The City Ballet will be performing matinee and evening productions now through December 23, with tickets ranging in price from $29 to $81. Visit the City Ballet website for more information and to purchase tickets.
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All images and video courtesy of City Ballet of San Diego.
