Santa Cruz City Ballet @
International Academy of Dance
NUTCRACKER: Experience The Magic!
The magic of the Nutcracker is on stage ~
We can’t wait to share it with you!
Saturday, December 19th, 2026
Sunday, December 20th, 2026
Performances @ 1:00 PM & 4:30 PM at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater
Tickets: NutcrackerSantaCruz.com
Kick-off your holidays with JOY! Add sparkle to the season with the magic only the Santa Cruz City Ballet Nutcracker can bring. From the youngest dancing gingerbread cookies to aspiring professional dancers and guest artists, this Nutcracker has it all… Gorgeous costumes, dazzling sets, and exquisite dancing sure to delight and inspire all ages!
One weekend ONLY.
A steadfast holiday tradition with something new to see each year. What better way to CELEBRATE than with family, friends, beauty, smiles, community, laughter, and the Nutcracker?
Experience the Magic! See you at the Nutcracker. (Photos of past performances)
History of the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker, Russian Shchelkunchik, ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in December 1892.
The story of The Nutcracker is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. Hoffmann’s story is darker and more troubling than the version that reached the stage; the Imperial Russian Ballet choreographer Marius Petipa chose to follow a light adaptation of the story written by Alexandre Dumas père
History of the Nutcracker in Santa Cruz
The Nutcracker was first performed in Santa Cruz in 1988 with Santa Cruz City Ballet Director, Shannon Chipman as the Snow Queen and Co-Director, Vicki Bergland as Co-Director on the old Cabrillo stage. They have since worked on many Nutcrackers together and this is their 19th year together with the Santa Cruz City Ballet @ IAD.
Every year the production grows with new ideas, choreography, scenery, costumes and imagination. Dancers in the Company, professionals from the bay area and beyond, alongside dancers from our community each bring their own sparkle. Most dancers in the production train at International Academy of Dance, home of the Santa Cruz City Ballet. It is always rewarding to see the tiniest gingersnaps, angels and party guests now dancing principal roles as young adults and pre-professionals, along with young dancers dreaming about becoming the next Snow Queen.
We breathe new life into this timeless classic, so please join us this December to see the latest rendition of The Nutcracker!
Interested in supporting the Nutcracker?
It’s the holiday season, and gift-giving is in the air! Your donation helps our Nutcracker performance come to life. And because we support local Santa Cruz businesses, artists, and choreographers, your donation also helps the community at large. We even offer space in our programs, if you have an advertisement you’d like to share… or you can donate directly to our 501c(3) organization - The Santa Cruz Dance Guild. The Dance Guild offers scholarship and training opportunities to young dancers from CASA, Rebele Shelter and families in need that may not otherwise be able to afford dance training. We are excited to give back our knowledge and training to everyone who has the passion and drive to learn ballet. We believe that Ballet makes life more beautiful! Learn more!
Want to be in the performance?
Auditions for the Nutcracker happen each year at the end of August and are open to all members of the community. The production has opportunities for dancers of all ages and abilities ages 4+. Train all year at the International Academy of Dance and get ready for auditions.
https://nutcrackersantacruz.com/
Event venue
Crocker Theater, 6500 Lower Perimeter Road, Aptos, CA 95003, United States
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