A Modesto family holiday tradition. Where, when you can enjoy this annual performance
Central West Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” has become a family tradition that has grown over the years to six performances along with one performance of a jazzed-up version.
This year, “The Nutcracker” will be performed Dec. 13-22 at the Gallo Center for the Arts. “The Nutcracker in Jazz” will be Dec. 21. A special low sensory and special needs performance has been added at noon for Dec. 11.
“The new sensory performance is part of our goal to open access of our productions for those who normally would not have the opportunity to enjoy a ballet or a dance show,” CWB Artistic Director Rene Daveluy said in an email. “The CWB Academy now offers sensory dance classes in partnership with the Society for disABILITIES and that also ties into our efforts to implement sensory performances as well.”
Also new this year is what Daveluy called “an important milestone” — it will mark the first time that several lead dance roles have gone to upcoming talents that have been trained by the CWB Academy.
“These are dancers that, many years ago, started out as children in ‘The Nutcracker’ in roles such as Baby Mice, Soldiers, young Prince and Party Scene Girls. They are now dancing such famous lead roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Waltz of the Flowers Queen and Cavalier and the Snow Queen,” Daveluy said.
Central West Ballet’s production was originally choreographed by founding Artistic Director Gretchen Vogelzang. In 2004, Daveluy choreographed a new version and expanded the production to include more opportunities for children to participate in the yearly production, he said.
This year, the production includes more than 150 children from the community who will perform along with company dancers during the story of Clara’s journey to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Also new this year will be a fairytale character to the “Fairytale Godmother” number, Daveluy said, and “Nutcracker in Jazz” will have a few new dance numbers.
“The choreography for ‘The Nutcracker’ is high energy and has many diverse dances based on different cultures from around the world,” Daveluy said. “The production also boasts a series of added characters performed by children such as the Crystal Pixies, Bonbons, Ice Fairies and the Fairytale Godmother and her fairytale characters.”
Again this year, Central West Ballet has six community guests who each will play the role of the Fairytale Godmother. Those guests will be: Dec. 13: Krista Joy Serpa; Dec. 14: Stacy Speiller; Dec. 15: Amy Wolfe; Dec. 20: Dr. William Clark; Dec. 21: Signe Darpinian; Dec. 22: Bonnie Ohara.
Sugarplum Fairy parties will follow the Dec 14-15 and Dec. 21 matinees. These tickets are additional and available at the Central West Ballet Office and performance days in the Gallo Center lobby.
“Much of the magic of ‘The Nutcracker’,” Daveluy said, “relies on the spirit of its community and Central West Ballet’s production has been a great tradition for more than 30 years.”
“The Nutcracker”
WHEN: 2 p.m. Dec. 14-15 and Dec. 21-22; 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 20
WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
TICKETS: $20-$63
ONLINE: www.galloarts.org
“The Nutcracker in Jazz”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21
WHERE: Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
TICKETS: $35-$63
ONLINE: www.galloarts.org
