Santa Cruz Dance Theater - The Petite Nutcracker

 December 21, 2024, 10 a.m.

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
307 Church St.
Santa Cruz, CA
$25-35, santacruztickets.com

Santa Cruz Dance Theater’s Petite Nutcracker is a heartwarming and family-friendly rendition of the beloved holiday ballet, showcasing young dancers ages 3-7 alongside top dancers. This unique production offers the youngest performers an exciting opportunity to share the stage with experienced company members, blending the sweetness and wonder of early childhood with the grace and skill of seasoned artists. With its joyful, family-centered atmosphere and shorter runtime, the Petite Nutcracker is a perfect holiday outing, inviting audiences of all ages to experience the magic of this timeless story and Tchaikovsky's sublime score!

california nutcracker

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre

 Closed their doors permanently in August 2024

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents, The Original Santa Cruz Nutcracker, a favorite holiday tradition!   Dancers have enjoyed expert instruction at this ballet school and have continued with professional dance careers. Examples are Erin Duffy & Sarah Stein, both with Ballet San Jose. The Studio, School of Classical Ballet was founded by Jean Dunphy, but for over 10 years has seen great success with Executive Artistic Directors  Diane Cypher and Robert Kelley. The Studio has three programs: Preparatory, Professional and Adult/Teen. 

Both directors are well known talents in the ballet arena. Robert Kelly was honored with 2010 Artist of the Year 2009 Gail Rich Award recipient, but he has received many more awards in the form of roles, receiving formal dance training at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School and with Alonzo King.

Kelly has danced professionally with Charleston Ballet Theatre, Sacramento Ballet and Fort Wayne Ballet, with many works choreographed especially for him by renown choreographers.  His choreography has earned several awards and two of his works are in the Regional America Choreography Plan. He was the Artistic Director of San Jose Dance Theatre, and has choreographed over 30ballets for the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.  

Diane Cypher 2009 Gail Rich Award recipient is best known during her performing career by her maiden name, Diane McLarty. You may have heard of her, especially in California as she has performed with some of the state's finest companies.  Working with Barbara Crocket and the Sacramento Ballet, she joined Santa Barbara Ballet as a teen and toured the country dancing one of her favorite roles: Myrtha in  Giselle.

Under the direction of Ron Cunningham at Sacramento Ballet Diane  danced leading roles such as Odette/Odile in  Swan Lake,  the Lilac Fairy in  Sleeping Beauty  and the Sugar Plum Fairy in  The Nutcracker.   She loved dancing ballets choreographed by Ron Cunningham and continues to inspire others with her teaching career and co-directorship at both The Studio School of Classical Ballet and the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.