Los Angeles Ballet - The Nutcracker

 December 1-26, 2023

Locations: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena;  Royce Hall, UCLA; Dolby Theatre Hollywood; Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center

Prices: $40-137, approx.
losangelesballet.org

Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena, CA

• Friday, December 1, 2023, 8 p.m.
• Sat, December 2, 2023, 6 p.m.
• Sun, December 3, 2023, 2 p.m.

Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court, Los Angeles, CA

• Fri, December 8, 2023, 8 p.m.
• Sat, December 9, 2023, 12 & 5 p.m.

Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA

• Fri, December 15, 2023, 8 p.m.
• Sat, December 16, 2023, 12 & 5 p.m.
• Sun, December 17, 2023, 2 p.m.
• Sun, December 24, 2023, 2 p.m.
• Tue, December 26, 2023, 2 p.m.

Dolby Theatre with Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA

• Thurs, December 21, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
• Fri, December 22, 2023, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
• Sat, December 23, 2023, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

Nutcracker Tea  Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Beverly Hills - 5 Seatings, sells out quickly. 

Celebrate Los Angeles Ballet and the holiday season with a preview performance of excerpts from The Nutcracker, and opportunities for children to interact with LAB dancers and costumed characters from the production. High Tea, Holiday Crafts, excerpts of LAB's The Nutcracker, and Dancing with characters. Winter Boutique; take photos with Santa, Clara, Nutcracker and Baby Mouse! Contact: Rachel Malkenhorst, Director of Development (310) 477-7411 ext 1006   refreshments & treats, the event includes an elegant holiday boutique, Nutcracker-themed craft activities, and a keepsake photo opportunity. $85 child, $165 adult,  losangelesballet.org

The Nutcracker - Los Angeles Ballet stays true to the traditions of the holiday story with some surprises! This production is set in 1912 Los Angeles. Throughout the five scenes in two acts you will find hints and tastes of Southern California - a Spanish style home, calla lilies, bougainvillea, the snowy forests of the Sierras, Venice archways, a moonlit Pacific Ocean and more!

 Melissa Barak, new Artistic Director of Los Angeles Ballet, says it promises to be an amazing season of renowned classics and brilliant contemporary works that illustrate LAB's commitment to setting the standard for dance in Los Angeles, and to passionately pursue innovation and creativity in performances

LAB's popular The Nutcracker is a Los Angeles holiday tradition, essential for celebrating the season. Journey with young Clara and her beloved Nutcracker as they battle a most memorable Mouse King, encounter dancing Snowflakes and travel to the Palace of the Dolls. Los Angeles Ballet stays true to the traditions of the holiday story, with a few surprises.

This production is set in 1912 Los Angeles and throughout the five scenes in two acts you will find tastes of Southern California. Look for an elegant Spanish style Hancock Park home, calla lilies, bougainvillea, the snowy forests of Big Bear, Venice Beach archways, and the moonlit Pacific Ocean.

Adding to the enchantment of The Nutcracker, LAB will once again perform Tchaikovsky's iconic score with the Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra at Dolby Theatre for performances December 22 through 26 with special performances on Christmas Eve.

california nutcracker

Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker is the city's own holiday tradition, perfect for celebrating the season. Set to Tchaikovsky's iconic score, you will be captivated as Clara and her beloved Nutcracker battle a most memorable Mouse King, encounter dancing Snowflakes and travel to the Palace of the Dolls.

Adding to the enchantment of The Nutcracker, LAB will perform again with the Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra at Dolby Theatre for four performances from December 20th through December 24th.

Original Choreography by Thordal Christensen & Colleen Neary
Original Sets Designed by Catherine Kanner
Costumes Designed by Mikael Melbye
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker is a great showcase for principal dancers. An original production choreographed by Christensen and Neary set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's illustrious score, principal dancers reprise their role. Featuring sets with Los Angeles flair by LA designer Catherine Kanner and costumes originally designed by Mikael Melbye, The Nutcracker has become a staple for the city of Los Angeles.

Repertoire subject to change
About the Artistic Directors
Thordal Christensen is the Founding co-Artistic Director for Los Angeles Ballet.

The world of dance claims Mr. Christensen as one of its most respected citizens. Mr. Christensen danced with the Royal Danish Ballet, New York City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet in major roles in the classical and modern repertoire. He was appointed artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet School in 1999. During his leadership he advanced the company repertoire and school to new levels. In 2002, Mr. Christensen was appointed Knight of Dannebrog by Her Majesty Margrethe II. Colleen Neary is the Founding co-Artistic Director for Los Angeles Ballet. Ms. Neary danced as a soloist from 1969 to 1979 with New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine. She had numerous roles created for her by George Balanchine, Peter Martins, Jacques d'Amboise and others. She was invited in 1979 to be Ballet Mistress and Choreographic Assistant for the Zurich Ballet. During this period she also staged Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote and Manfred for La Scala de Milan, Zurich Ballet and Vienna State Opera. In 1984 she was invited to be Principal Guest Artist and company teacher for Maurice Béjart's Ballet du XXième Siecle where he created several roles for her. In 1986 she was invited to join Pacific Northwest Ballet as Principal Dancer. In 1992 she joined The Royal Danish Ballet as Ballet Mistress and company teacher. By 1999 she became First Ballet Mistress in charge of productions, a position she held until 2002. Ms. Neary is a member of the George Balanchine Trust and has staged many of his ballets, including Agon, The Four Temperaments, Theme and Variations, Rubies, Serenade, Tarantella, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Divertimento no.15, Piano Concerto no. 2, Concerto Barocco, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, and Symphony in C, for leading companies around the world.

Since co-founding Los Angeles Ballet in 2006, Ms. Neary and Mr. Christensen have worked continuously to advance the company to one of the nation's most prestigious ballet companies by staging and choreographing increasingly difficult works, such as La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Prodigal Son, Giselle, and now Swan Lake.

About Los Angeles Ballet
Launched in 2006 by Co-Artistic Directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary and Executive Director Julie Whittaker, Los Angeles Ballet enjoyed a successful first season as the city's own professional ballet company focused on capturing the creative aesthetic unique to Southern California. The Company, a not-for-profit arts organization, makes its professional home at Los Angeles Ballet Center in Los Angeles, which also house Los Angeles Ballet School.