The Nutcracker 12/18

Our productions feature professional dancers and aspiring ballet students.  The performances are inspired by children's literature.  We hope you will join us soon forThe Nutcracker(every December), or one of our rotating spring performances:The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,No Place Like Home (Wizard of OZ), Sleeping Beaty, and Peter Pan.

A Terre School of Dance

On Christmas Eve Claire must make a choice.  She receives a  strange gift from her Godfather that leads to a night she will never forget.

Covina Center for the Performing Arts

A Tale as Old as Time:Our tale begins Christmas Eve, 1892, in the workshop of a whimsical toymaker called Drosselmeyer. Drosselmeyer is working on toys to take to his godchildren. He imagines beautiful stories of heroines from magical kingdoms. These stories become the inspiration for his dolls. Tonight, he is also working intently on a creation that is deeply personal to him, a Nutcracker doll to honor the memory of a soldier he fought with in the years of his youth. Meanwhile, in the home of his godchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum are welcoming relatives to their Christmas Eve party. In our version of this tale, Claire Stahlbaum is reluctant to commit to a suitor brought to their home by distant relatives. Although her cousins are settling into their future as brides, Claire feels more connected to the children dreaming of magic on Christmas Eve. She also has quiet hopes to escape family pressures and marry for true love. Drosselmeyer entertains the party with his imaginative toy creations. The children adore the life-sized dolls, and each girl is fascinated with his stories of princesses from far-away lands. However, Claire is the only child sensitive enough to understand the novelty of Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker. She requests an opportunity to look more closely at The Nutcracker. Honored and flattered by Claire’s interest, Drosselmeyer gives it to her to keep. The doll fills her with a sense of wonder and she begins to dance happily. Claire is interrupted by the young man hoping to ask for her hand in marriage. Drosselmeyer, recognizes her hesitance. He responds by instigating support from her loving and silly younger brother, Franz. Franz works to keep Claire safe from the impending proposal until the night is finally over. Guests leave as the evening comes to a close. Later, Claire falls asleep only to find herself waking in a world of wonder where she possesses the power to create beautiful stories of her own, while her Nutcracker is transformed into her companion, and the people in her life are just as magical and terrifying as everything inside her own heart.About our Production:This community ballet performance features local dancers of all ages. Our mission is to support ballet tradition in our community while providing accessible ballet training, and education. This performance benefits student learning and helps support our school's growth and development. The original libretto was adapted from the children's Christmas Fairy Tale, The Nutcracker and The Mouse King written by, ETA Hoffman. The original choreography was created by the great choreographic duo, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The music was created by Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky, his only children's ballet. The show first premiered in St. Petersburg Russia in 1892. The show was not at instant success, but over the years it has grown into a both a classic and a massive Christmas tradition. We thank you for attending our own version and we hope you fully enjoy the show.

This show is suitable for children ages 3 and above.