Pacific Palisades residents and students perform in Westside Ballet’s sold-out 50th “Nutcracker” season. Pictured, from left, top row: Olivia Yu, Addison Russell, Elise Dufour, Zoya Abyzov, Lyla Brugger and Mila Bakhshandehpour; middle row: Laurel O'Donnell, Kaia Sappington, Clara Ditter, Valentina Finci, Izzy Heidt and Inès Macpherson; bottom row: Zoe Nakamura, Carlin McCaffrey and Imogen Marble Photo by Sarah Madison Photography
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
When Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s 50th anniversary “Nutcracker” eight-performance run sold out ahead of its opening at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, the studio wanted to offer a way to reach a wider net of supporters from over the years.
So, for “a limited time during the 2023 holiday season,” “The Nutcracker” producers shared a free Vimeo and YouTube link for the community to stream the ballet on their home entertainment systems.
“As we celebrate Westside Ballet’s remarkable 50th anniversary production, we honor our legacy through the exceptional artistry of our star alumni,” Producer and Westside Ballet President Judith Meister said in a statement.
Three Westside Ballet alumni—Tiler Peck, and Palisadians Lucia Connolly and Lyrica Woodruff—each took center stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy during the ballet’s November 25 to December 3 run.
Westside Ballet’s late co-founder Yvonne Mounsey first brought “The Nutcracker” to Los Angeles in 1973, adding her own choreography. Today the company’s rendition is reported to be Southern California’s longest-running production.
Set to the score of Tchaikovsky led by the Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra, this year’s production featured more than 107 dancers, 225 customs and four “lavishly designed” scenes.
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