SeeCalifornia.com

California Nutcracker season has returned, and for Ballet San Jose, the new production of an old favorite appears to be a return to the classics. With the ousting of renown, artistic director/choreographer Dennis Nahat, the Bay Area company announced this fall that José Manuel Carreño would become Artistic Director effective September 2013. Nahat was known for his colorful staging and exciting performances that broke from tradition.

The new director is a retired Cuban ballet dancer who performed as a principal dancer with the English National Ballet, Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. He has put together The Nutcracker 2013 utilizing the talents of Ballet San Jose’s very own Karen Gabay for choreography. Gabay retired in April 2013 from her position as principal dancer for the ballet company where she has performed for 34 years, and now serves as Artistic Associate.

The Nutcracker production features nearly 100 performers, live music with Ballet San Jose Music Director George Daugherty conducting Symphony Silicon Valley, sets by Paul Kelly and costumes by Broadway legend Theoni V. Aldredge. Gabay’s staging takes much of its inspiration from the traditional E.T.A. Hoffmann story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, but features subtle but decidedly feminist underpinnings. It is one of more than 100 performances of this time-honored classic you can see throughout California this holiday season. Go check it out!