Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites - Kids Kaleidoscope

STATE STREET BALLET THE NUTCRACKER A DELIGHTFUL SANTA BARBARA HOLIDAY TRADITION

The Nutcracker is one of State Street Ballet’s most delightful productions at The Granada Theatre. This magical story is a favorite for audiences of all ages, featuring Glittering snowflakes, waltzing flowers, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her dazzling castle of characters who take Clara on an exciting adventure to the Kingdom of Sweets.

Accompanied by the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra, an international cast of professional dancers unite with over 100 young dancers from the State Street Ballet Academy for an unforgettable weekend of performances to celebrate the season's magic. This year’s Choreography was by Rodney Gustafson, Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Featuring Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra, conducted by Brian Asher Alhadeff and it was all magical.

The three-day State Street Ballet production The Nutcracker was performed on December 19, 20 matinee and evening performances, and a December 21^st matinee, which I was once again delighted to attend to view countless families arriving with their adorable holiday donned little girls hurrying to their seats to experience this magical Santa Barbara tradition, which is always a source of joy for everyone in the Granada Theatre, especially the mothers and grandmothers who danced this ballet as children or attended holiday presentations of The Nutcracker with their own mother, and realize that passing the love of The Nutcracker is a quiet but profoundly understood tradition.

“State Street Ballet The Nutcracker is not only a tradition for our audiences, but also a living tradition within our company,” said Megan Philipp, Artistic Directo and Cecily MacDougall, Executive Director.

For members of the Santa Barbara community the annual Nutcracker also offers an opportunity to see very young State Street Ballet students literally grow up dancing on stages like the Granada Theatre stage going from little angels or snow fairies into major

Nutcracker dancing roles, which was the case for me this year when Amanda Kabaretti, talented daughter of Santa Barbara Symphony Maestro Nir Kabaretti and Opera Santa Barbara talent Gaja Hubbard Kabaretti, was selected to perform Clara, and was simply stunning while giving an outstanding performance. Amanda’s dance and dramatic skills were remarkable in sharing the story of her beloved Nutcracker, and it was hard to wrap my head around the fact that this extremely talented young woman was just yesterday performing as a tiny tot on the Granada Stage and was also the little Girl Scout delivering cookie orders to me. The matinee performance audience members also included many dance students of State Street Ballet and their families who came to support and cheer on dance student friends who were performing.

Kudos to State Street Ballet Santa Barbara 2025/26 Season Sponsors including Dr. Nicole Callahan, Rogerand Sarah Chrisman for the Schlinger-Chrisman Foundation, Margo Cohen-Feinberg and Robert Feinberg, Cheryl Goldberg, Ann Jackson Family Foundation, Tim Mikel, Mark and Pauline Sylvain, Carrie Towbes for the Michael Towbes Fund, Melanie Trent De Schutter, Richard Watts, Anonymous, Performance and Venue Sponsor The Granada Theatre, Live Music Sponsor Manitou Fund/Nora McNeely Hurley, Costume Fund Melanie Trent De Schutter, Master Tailor Patron and special thanks to the State Street Ballet Patrons Circle, Community supporters, Legacy Circle Patrons and Wine Sponsors, and an amazing cast for yet another unforgettable The Nutcracker.

The excitement and energy of State Street Ballet 31^st season will continue in the spring with March 21-22 at the Lobero Theatre for RECESS! a joyful family-friendly triple bill featuring Jerome Robbins’ interplay. The closing season will be a groundbreaking dance-theatre production Chaplin, May 8-9 at the Lobero Theatre. Information contact@statestreetballet.com or 805-845-1432.