TheBestNutcracker.com
Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont, CA 91711.
Tickets: (909) 607-1139, ipballet.org
2011 Dates at The Lewis Family Playhouse
Thursday, December 15 7 p.m.
Friday December 16 7 p.m.
The Nutcracker Cost: $21-50. lewisfamilyplayhouse.com
Victoria Gardens Center, 12505 Cultural Center Way,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739. Tickets: (909) 477-2725
Inland Pacific Ballet Nutcracker
includes over 100 dancers, splendid costumes, stage sets and lighting, and artistic direction by Victoria Koenig
with co-director Kevin Myers.
This year's production also boasts exciting new choreography. The role of Clara will be
given more prominence and be danced by IPB Principals Jennifer Friel, and Marina Fabila, the
Dance of the Reed Flutes will incorporate charming milkmaids in exquisite new costumes, and a
splendid 60 foot long traditional Chinese dragon will delight audiences in the Chinese Tea dance.
Celebrating its 17th season in 2011, the cast includes Shawn Bryan direct from
Europe, will reprise his delightful interpretation of the doting godfather Drosselmeyer
who gifts the magical nutcracker doll to Clara. Bryan is an internationally acclaimed mime and
actor, who studied at the famous Ecole de Mimodrame in France and performed with
legendary mime Marcel Marceau as Marceau's hand-picked apprentice. Originally
from southern California, Bryan studied languages and history at France's
leading University, the Sorbonne, and received a Master's Degree in Slavic
Linguistics from the University of Chicago. He has toured throughout the world
for more than thirty years, and his mastery of movement and silent expression elevates
his performance of the role of Drosselmeyer beyond expectations.
New York Artists Laura Feig and Eric Michaels will dance the roles of the Sugar Plum
Fairy and her Cavalier. Feig, a Principal Dancer formerly with Atlanta Ballet and National Ballet
of Canada has danced starring roles in major ballets including Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake,
Cinderella and Coppelia. In addition to her accomplishments as a classical
ballerina, she also toured the U.S., Canada and Japan starring in Twyla Tharp's Movin Out in the role of Judy.
Eric Michaels formerly of the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and
New York's Metropolitan Opera Ballet was an original Broadway cast member of
Twyla Tharp's Come Inland Pacific Ballet - Nutcracker Spectacular Fly Away,
dancing the lead role of Sid, and also danced the principal role of James in the
Broadway and touring companies of Tharp's Movin' Out.
Held in an elegant theater built in 1931 in Claremont, California, Bridges was widely regarded as the finest theater in Southern California because of its white columns, vaulting arches, grand marble foyer, and hand painted coffered ceilings. This 2400 seat opera house is the home to seasonal productions and performances of the Inland Pacific Ballet Company.
Founded in 1991, The Inland Pacific Ballet Academy brings professional quality dance training and performing opportunities to students of all ages and levels of experience.
Victoria Koenig
and Kevin Myers are Directors, and
Jill Voznick is
Co-Director
of Inland Pacific Ballet.
Victoria Koenig - After many years as a professional dancer, and extensive international travel as a guest artist and teacher,
Victoria Koenig returned home to Southern California and has become a shaping force in the region's dance community. She co-founded the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, was on the faculty of the Stanley Holden Dance Center, and served on the dance faculty of California State University, Long Beach. Koenig has brought her many years of professional experience to the Inland Valley as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Inland Pacific Ballet, one of the fastest growing cultural assets in Southern California. She is also on the dance faculty at Pomona College.
Kevin Myers - Myers danced with the Houston Ballet in solo roles in the classic repertoire including
The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. As soloist with the Los Angeles Ballet he danced principal roles in Balanchine ballets, including Tarantella and Jewels. Myers is fulfilling a dream of widening the opportunities for young people of the Inland Empire to experience the art of ballet.
Jill Voznick joined the Southwest Ballet Center as a scholarship student
and also trained at The School of American Ballet in New York City. A graduate of the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, IL, she became a member of The National Ballet of Illinois and the Joffrey II Dancers before joining The Atlanta Ballet in 1980, where she was a soloist and principal dancer for
13 years. In addition to her accomplishments with the Atlanta Ballet she has established herself as a renowned teacher
at The Atlanta School of Ballet, the official school of North Carolina Dance
Theater, Dance Place and The Cincinnati School of Ballet. ipballet.org
