California Nutcracker Ballet

Productions number well over 50 with most companies producing a minimum of two shows. You can easily go nuts for this classic holiday ballet based on the novel by German author Ernst Theodor Amadeus (E.T.A.) Hoffmann, Nutcracker and Mouseking. Here's the Nutcracker Story summary.

California claims the oldest, tallest and biggest trees in the world, all worthy of our attention during the holidays when trees become shrines sparkling like diamonds and hiding priceless gifts under their branches. Another holiday symbol, The Nutcracker ballet, combines the centerpiece Christmas Tree with classical orchestration, dazzling costumes and seasoned to emerging talents showcased in hundreds of stage presentations in California. If you're wondering how this holiday tradition began, you can thank California's San Francisco Ballet for becoming America's first professional ballet company in 1933, then introducing the first American premier of The Nutcracker in 1944!

In addition, each year California is graced with The Great Russian Nutcracker, which has been renamed Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. Tapping into the talent of ballet dancers who transition from stage & spotlights to behind the scenes— teaching, creating new choreography and running ballet schools, many of The Nutcracker ballets in California are world-class!

 

California Nutcrackers

DAVIS: Davis Children's Nutcracker at Veterans Memorial Theatre performances Wednesday-Sunday, December 11-15, 2024. cityofdavis.org

ANAHEIM: Anaheim Ballet

ANTIOCH: Ballet Company of East County

AUBURN: Placer Theatre Ballet

CHICO: Chico Community Ballet no Nuts in 2024

COSTA MESA: Festival Ballet Theatre Nutcracker for Kids

DOWNEY: Southern California Dance Theatre

FORT BRAGG | UKIAH: Mendocino Ballet

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Ballet E'tudes  

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Coast City Ballet

IRVINE: Festival Ballet Theatre

LANCASTER: Antelope Valley Ballet Nutcracker

LIVERMORE: Livermore Valley Dance Theatre

LODI: The Lodi Ballet The Nutcracker   hutchinsstreetsquare.com

LONG BEACH: Long Beach Ballet

LOS ANGELES | GLENDALE| HOLLYWOOD | REDONDO BEACH: Los Angeles Ballet

MALIBU: California Dance Academy

MISSION VIEJO: Laguna Dance Theatre

MOUNTAIN VIEW: Pacific Ballet Academy  | Bayer Ballet Snow Queen

MODESTO: Central West Ballet

OAKLAND: Oakland Ballet Company

PARADISE: Northern California Ballet

PETALUMA: School of Ballet Sonoma State - Person Theater 1801 E. Cotati Ave. petalumaschoolofballet.com

PITTSBURG: Black Diamond Dance Theatre

POWAY: New West Ballet newwestballet.com

REDDING: Redding City Ballet presents The Nutcracker December 6-8, 2024 at Cascade Theatre. Location: 1731 Market Street, Redding, CA. $27-34, cascadetheatre.org | reddingcityballet.org

REDDING: World Ballet Company Nutcracker December 19, 2024,  7 p.m. at Cascade Theatre. Location: 1731 Market Street, Redding, CA. $46.50-112.50, cascadetheatre.org | reddingcityballet.org