The Nutcracker 2023

Complimentary Community Viewing 

Giving Back for Giving Tuesday! In the spirit of reciprocity, and as all eight public performances of Westside Ballet’s 50th Nutcracker have been sold out for over two weeks, the producers announced that Westside Ballet is offering a free Vimeo link for the community to watch the performance on their big screens at home!  Please go to vimeo.com/westsideballet18/50thnutcracker to enjoy the full recording for a limited time during the 2023 Holiday Season. 

Please support the arts in your backyard and donate to our nonprofit pre-professional performance company. Please visit westsideballet.com/50for50 — so that Westside Ballet may continue for another 50 years to inspire people, young and old, to rise above all expectations & motivate all to “Raise the Barre” for Santa Monica and the greater community, through the power and magic of ballet! No donation amount too small – or large!

Fifty Years of Magic!

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica presents Southern California’s longest-running rendition of “The Nutcracker” in celebration of its 50th anniversary! Since its enchanting debut in 1973, this beloved production has become a cherished tradition in Los Angeles, captivating audiences with its magical allure. 

Westside Ballet’s milestone 50th celebration will feature a truly special treat for audiences: Illustrious Westside alumni, including the remarkable talents of Tiler Peck, Lucia Connolly, and Lyrica Woodruff, will take center stage as the enchanting Sugar Plums. These extraordinary artists, whose careers have soared to great heights, return to their roots to grace this timeless production with their artistry, making these performances truly memorable.  

Set to the majestic score of Tchaikovsky led by The Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra, this production masterfully captures the essence of the legendary George Balanchine’s vision, as originally conceived by Yvonne Mounsey, who once graced the stage as the Center Spanish in the New York City Ballet during the peak of her career.

Highlighted in the pages of the Los Angeles Times and recognized in 2015 as one of Pointe Magazine’s preferred Nutcracker productions nationwide, it’s a holiday experience that promises to be unforgettable—one you won’t want to miss!

Nutcracker Trailer

Please enjoy Westside’s commemorative 50th Anniversary Commercial made in collaboration with Santa Monica College Film Program.

About Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker

The longest running Nutcracker in the city, Westside Ballet’s lavish production has been a Los Angeles tradition since 1973.

From the moment the theater lights dim, you’ll embark on a journey into a whimsical realm of Christmas wonder, where the merriment and festive spirit of the season come alive. In the Victorian-style party scene, menacing mice engage in epic battles with valiant toy soldiers, and a dashing Prince guides Clara through the enchanting Land of Snow, where swirling flurries are conjured by the mesmerizing Snow Queen.

As Act II unfolds, heavenly angels, poised on billowing clouds, herald Clara and her Prince’s arrival in the Land of the Sweets. Clara is entertained by a delightful array of performances, including Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee, Peppermints, Chinese tea, and marzipan Mirlitons, each presenting their own unique charms. In the grand finale, a graceful waltz of flowers surrounds the shimmering Dew Drop Fairy before the radiant Sugar Plum Fairy and her elegant Cavalier take center stage in their magnificent pas de deux.

The entire Kingdom bids Clara a fond farewell as she embarks on her journey home, sailing through a glittering night sky in a walnut boat.