Los Angeles Ballet: The Nutcracker

Dynamic deux: Peter Snow and Erin Rivera-Brennand in Los Angeles Ballet’s inaugural production (Photo by Ryan K. Sharif)

Related Content

• Los Angeles Ballet Needs More Than a Bland Swan Lake
  March 5, 2012
• Dance to the Future
  May 10, 2012
• Swan Angeles
  March 1, 2012
• A Nutcracker To Call Our Own
  December 15, 2011
• A Nutcracker To Call Our Own
  December 15, 2011

More About

• New York City Ballet
• Dance Troupes and Companies
• Redondo Beach
• Dance
• Ballet

Like this Story?

Get the Arts Newsletter: Get the latest news and offers from the LA art scene sent directly to your email address. Exclusive events and art related sales you won't hear about anywhere else!

Make sign up easy with:

Justifiably big buzz is swirling around the debut of this new resident ballet company led by former Royal Danish Ballet artistic director Thordal Christensen and former New York City Ballet star Colleen Neary. The calling card: a brand-new production of The Nutcracker set in 1912 Southern California, boasting stellar guest stars from American Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet, a live orchestra, and sets from award-winning L.A. designer/illustrator Catherine Kanner. Responding to L.A.’s horizontal nature and increasingly clogged traffic arteries, The Nutcracker and the two spring performances in the inaugural season will commute among three home theaters in Beverly Hills, Redondo Beach and Glendale, saving audiences that harrowing drive downtown. In addition to introducing us to LAB’s international ensemble of polished, young, athletic dancers, The Nutcracker features top-notch guest artists, including ABT’s Paloma Herrera and Maria Ricetto as well as NYCB’s Maria Korowski (the model for Mattel’s Ballerina Barbie), Benjamin Millipied and Stephan Hanna. They even found a spot for a ubiquitous dance writer in the Mother Ginger chimney, giving your reporter a bird’s-eye view of what promises to be the major professional ballet company this city lacks. The excitement moves to Redondo Beach this weekend and then to Glendale’s Alex Theater. For local dance fans, this is an overdue present to be opened early and enjoyed often. Los Angeles Ballet at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach; Sat., Dec. 23, 2 & 7 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 24, 1 p.m.; $28-$95. Also at the Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale; Sat., Dec. 30, 2 & 7 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 31, 1 p.m.; $35-$95. (310) 998-7782 or www.losangelesballet.org.

—Ann Haskins