In the month of December, there are holiday dance productions on the calendar every weekend from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.
Ballet performances at Christmas-time are a holiday tradition for many, including the dancers with Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo.
Artistic director Drew Silvaggio is busy rehearsing dancers before a milestone performance.
“This is the 40th anniversary of the Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo’s ‘The Nutcracker’ and it’s kind of a culmination of all the years that we’ve consistently created Nutcracker,” Silvaggio said.
The show will feature a few dancers who have performing in all 40 productions, but Silvaggio says there’s always something new about the show.
“Every year it’s completely original,” he said. “We re-choreograph every single step and that’s basically because everybody gets better. Even as choreographers, we get better and want to try new things.”
Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo’s ‘The Nutcracker’ runs December 8, 9, 10 at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center with live music by Opera SLO.
You can hear Tchaikovsky’s famous soundtrack performed live by Opera SLO at State Street Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ December 16 & 17 at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara.
North County Dance & Performing Arts Foundation ‘Nutcracker’ show takes the stage December 8, 9, 10 at the Templeton Performing Arts Center.
Directors say dancers look forward to sharing their love of ballet and the arts with the community.
NCDPAF and Class Act Dance Studio will perform their ‘Holiday Showcase’ December 15 at the Templeton Life Community Church.
In Santa Barbara, professional guest artists will dance alongside student dancers in Santa Barbara Festival Ballet’s 42nd annual ‘Nutcracker at the Arlington.’
The ballet features a live, full symphony orchestra and is recognized as one of the longest running Nutcracker productions in the United States with live music.
Tiny dancers ages 2-12 years old of CORE Dance Company will light up Mission Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo December 10 with their free holiday performance.
“They’re going to be at Santa’s House at the Mission and they get to peform,” said CORE Kids Series director Alexa Vonderhoff. “They’ve been doing this for six weeks and then this is how they finish out the series, they perform.”
A new holiday production is coming to the Central Coast.
Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo will debut ‘The Snow Queen’ December 15-17.
“This is the world premiere, full length of Hans Christen Andersen’s ‘The Snow Queen,’” said Ballet Theatre SLO artistic director Theresa Slobodnik. “It’s appropriate for people of all ages. It’s a magical, inspirational tale of love and faith and what could be better at the holidays?”
Whether you go to the ballet every year or are looking to start a new tradition, local dancers all along the coast are ready to give you a great holiday show.
LOCAL DANCE PRODUCTIONS:
Dec 8, 9, 10: The Nutcracker Ballet by North County Dance & Performing Arts Foundation at Templeton Performing Arts Center. Tickets here.
Dec 8, 9, 10: The Nutcracker 40th Anniversary production by Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo & Opera SLO at Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. Tickets here.
Dec 9, 10: Nutcracker at the Arlington – Santa Barbara Festival Ballet & Santa Barbara Symphony at Arlington Theatre. Tickets here.
Dec 10: Performance at Santa’s House in Mission Plaza, downtown San Luis Obispo byCORE Dance Company (free) at 4 p.m.
Dec 15: Holiday Showcase by Class Act Dance Studio at Templeton Life Community Church.
Dec 15: 2017 Hometown Christmas Recital by Dellos Performing Arts Center. 6:30 p.m. at New Life Church, Pismo Beach. Tickets $15 at door.
Dec 15,16,17: The Snow Queen – Ballet Theatre SLO at Spanos Theatre. Tickets here.
Dec 16: SLOMAC Holiday Show in Mission Plaza by SLO Movement Arts Center at 2 & 3:30 p.m.
Dec 16: Into the Wardrobe – A Story of Narnia by Motions Academy of Dance. 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Templeton Performing Arts Center
Dec 16,17: The Nutcracker in SB – State Street Ballet and Opera SLO at the Granada Theatre. Tickets here.
Dec 16 at 7 p.m. & Dec 17 @ 2 p.m.: The Nutcracker by Allan Hancock College for Kids youth dance program. Ethel Pope Auditorium, Santa Maria High School, 901 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. Tickets available at the door.
Let us know about more local holiday dance productions in the comments below!
