Dance Kids of Monterey County Presents Nutcracker: A Monterey Peninsula Tradition and Gala Event

Dance Kids of Monterey County presents, ‘A Journey Through the Land of Sweets’, featuring exquisite catering with treats from exotic countries, fine wines and beer, a silent and live auction, all set in a vision befitting the elegance of the evening. Enjoy a smorgasbord of tastes by Angela Blessing Catering, featuring Russian, Chinese, Spanish and Arabian delicacies reminiscent of Clara’s magical journey in the Land of the Sweets. Scheid Vineyards and Carmel Craft Brewing are pouring their finest! Desserts abound courtesy of Chef William Bennett.  The evening is filled with silent and live auction items including fine wines and trips to far-away lands; all in support of the children of Dance Kids. The gala ticket includes Premium seating in the orchestra section of the theatre for the 7 PM show immediately following the gala. 

It is midnight at the Old Del Monte Hotel. Salvador Dali and Mae West have retired to their respective suites after the glorious revelry of an old-fashioned Christmas Eve party; complete with the Mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer, the sweet innocence of Clara and the rambunctious Fritz, who broke Clara's magic Nutcracker, the stage is filled with the graceful history of our fair Peninsula during the Golden Age of the romantic past.

Too excited to sleep, Clara ventures to the Great Room to capture her memories and retrieve her special gift. She falls asleep next to the waning fire where her dream takes flight and a ferocious battle scene erupts before her very eyes. After the battle was won, with the Nutcracker Prince by Clara's side, they enter the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets, feasting on the beauty of ballerinas, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. 

Dance Kids of Monterey County's Tour d'force collaboration with the Monterey County Pops! Orchestra LIVE! is the only production in Monterey County to team musicians with professional and pre professional dancers in its production of this holiday tradition. Twenty-Six years of excellence in training and performance quality culminates in four Dance Kids of Monterey County performances, including a cast of 100 on stage and a 39-piece orchestra led by the maestro, Dr. Carl Christensen.

The corps de ballet enjoys internationally recognized Dance Kids of Monterey County's Artistic Director, Philip Pegler and his vast knowledge and experience, along with Sandra Burnham, a Royal Academy of Dance Adjudicator and international instructor with students performing in featured companies in Europe and the United States. The Peninsula's own Gloria Elber rounds out this incredible team of talent and brings the cast to a new benchmark of quality. 

Adults and children of all ages enjoy the beauty of the Sunset Center and the lure of Tchaikovsky's captivating music, performed by Monterey County Pops!, the dancers are costumed by Joanne Phelps and the production features Nicole Bryant-Stephens' magical sets. The age-old story of the 'Nutcracker' adapted to our own historic Monterey Peninsula, demands this full-scale production complete with a full orchestra.

You will be charmed by the tiniest four-year-old Shepherdess Doll, swept away by the corps de ballet, breathless with the Arabian duet, and overwhelmed by the grace of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The youngsters in the audience will delight to the antics of the Mouse King as he defends his troops in a fierce battle against the handsome Nutcracker Prince. This production has something for each member of your family!
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Dance Kids of Monterey County wishes you and your family a magical holiday season.