California Nutcracker Ballet
San Diego, Golden State Ballet's The Nutcracker
December 15-24, 2023 with live music performed by San Diego Symphony
San Diego Civic Theatre
1100 3rd Avenue
San Diego, CA
$25-129, goldenstateballet.org
December 15, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
December 16, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
December 17, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
December 21, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
December 22, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
December 23, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
December 24, 2023, 2 p.m.
Artistic Director & Choreographer Raul Salamanca
Tchaikovsky's timeless score and Choreographer Maxine Mahon's annual production of The Nutcracker is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends, introducing new patrons to the power and beauty of classical dance.
California Ballet has brought over 400 performances of The Nutcracker to more than 600,000 San Diego patrons since 1969. Enjoy the dazzling display of Maxine Mahon's theatrical staging. Performances at multiple locations provide more opportunities for the whole community to enjoy this production voted Best Local Dance Performance. The San Diego Symphony will accompany performances.
The California Ballet Nutcracker features guest performances by some of the world finest artists on stage. All you can do is simply marvel at the level of talent. The Nutcracker has enjoyed four decades as the top holiday performance in San Diego. With the San Diego Symphony accompaniment and Music Director John Stubbs, California Ballet Company's Nutcracker is the must-see. Spectacular costumes, powerful music, and amazing talent with some of the most athletic, artistic ballet talent on the planet, this is the sort of performance you'd see on television. In fact, it has been broadcast on TV!
In past performances the California Ballet Company featured Principal Dancers Jennifer Curry, Cassandra Lund and international guests artists Vadim Solomakha, Vitaliy Nechay and Gennadi Saveliev.
Patrons to the annual performance are normally provided an opportunity to meet the cast at Sugar Plum Parties in the Grand Salon after daytime performances. The California Ballet Company is a creative force in San Diego, no doubt. But to try to put into words the impact and support this institute experiences would be difficult to summarize.
From presenting performances to cancer patients, to broadcasts of The Nutcracker on public television nationally, there are many good reasons it excels and stands out among California dance academies and schools.
Founder and director, Maxine Mahon - Growing one of the largest academies of professional dance in California with over 800 students in four locations, she has created a reputation both locally in San Diego and internationally. Taking silver and gold medals in International Ballet Competitions, Mahon has also won numerous awards for choreography and costume design. In San Diego she is best known for outreach programs, receiving an Exemplary Arts in Education Grant from the California Arts Council to provide on-site performances, curriculum materials and a variety of opportunities for children and young adults.