IRVINE Festival Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker  

December 7-24, 2024

(Abridged Nutcracker for Youth December 6, 2024, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.)

Irvine Barclay Theatre
4242 Campus Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
$50-120 approx. thebarclay.org

Actual dates: December 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24, 2024

This full-length traditional production is choreographed and directed by Festival Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director, Salwa Rizkalla
 
A cherished holiday classic, perfect for all ages. Create holiday memories for your family by sharing the magic of The Nutcracker.

Festival Ballet Theatre's family-friendly breathtaking production features superb colorful scenery and dazzling costumes, which make this age-old tradition sparkle like new. Be swept away by Tchaikovsky's iconic score as the Sugar Plum Fairy, our heroine Clara, and a cast of hundreds take you on a magical journey to mystical lands. This full-length traditional production is choreographed and directed by Festival Ballet Theatre's Artistic Director, Salwa Rizkalla, and features world-renowned guest artists, FBT's professional company dancers, and exceptional young talent from across the Southland.

During her professional dancing career, Ms. Rizkalla graced the stage in leading roles in well-known classical ballets as well as contemporary pieces. She had the privilege of working under the direction of world-renowned choreographers Leonid Lavrovsky and Serge Lifar. As a young dancer, Ms. Rizkalla trained in the Russian Vaganova method and studied with ballet masters of the Bolshoi and the Kirov. As the culmination of her training, Ms. Rizkalla completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ballet Pedagogy. She established Southland Ballet Academy in 1983 and debuted Festival Ballet Theatre in 1988. In addition to teaching and directing, Ms. Rizkalla was a faculty member of several area institutions.

california nutcracker

Festival Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker

Festival Ballet Theatre: Bursting with energy and excitement, Festival Ballet's enormously popular production charms audiences of all ages. Set to the timeless music of Peter Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, a young girl who receives the gift of a nutcracker soldier from her mysterious godfather - and then the magical journey begins! 

Festival Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker bursts with energy and excitement.   Family-friendly and affordable, this full-length, traditional production is choreographed and directed by Festival Ballet Theatre's Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla, and features spectacular guest artists, FBT's professional company dancers, and exceptional young talent from across the Southland.
 
Festival Ballet Theatre's (FBT) annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet at the beautiful Irvine Barclay Theatre is choreographed and directed by FBT's Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla, and features a cast of professional dancers and more than 100 local dancers. Renowned guest artists come to FBT from across the country for this classical holiday celebration! Make it a family holiday tradition at the Barclay with Festival Ballet Theatre's sparkling full-length professional production of The Nutcracker.

Celebrate the season with visions of the Sugar Plum Fairy, her dashing prince and our heroine Clara, while a cast of over one hundred takes you back in time to mystical lands of old world charm.

During her professional dancing career, Ms. Rizkalla graced the stage in leading roles in well-known classical ballets as well as contemporary pieces. She had the privilege of working under the direction of world-renowned choreographers Leonid Lavrovsky and Serge Lifar. As a young dancer, Ms. Rizkalla trained in the Russian Vaganova method and studied with ballet masters of the Bolshoi and the Kirov. As the culmination of her training, Ms. Rizkalla completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ballet Pedagogy. She established Southland Ballet Academy in 1983 and debuted Festival Ballet Theatre in 1988. In addition to teaching and directing, Ms. Rizkalla was a faculty member of several area institutions.