‘The Nutcracker’ Inland Pacific Ballet’s spectacular holiday tradition returns to Claremont, Rancho Cucamonga & Riverside

Experience the magic of the holidays with family and friends at southern California’s most spectacular production of The Nutcracker from critically acclaimed Inland Pacific Ballet. The Nutcracker comes to life in this magnificent ballet with beautiful sets, dazzling costumes, Tchaikovsky’s classic score, and more than 80 dancers on stage. This annual holiday favorite tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Toy soldiers, life-sized dancing dolls, falling snow, a fantastic dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers, gingerbread characters, and the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy stir the imagination. This is family entertainment at its best.

In addition to IPB’s Company of professional dancers, the diverse cast includes a total of 77 youth between the ages of 6-18 who make up multiple casts at the three venues. Participating youth come primarily from the IPB Academy, and reside in local communities such as San Dimas, Chino, Glendora, Claremont, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Chino Hills, Corona, Redlands, Lake Forest, and Banning, among others. 

This year’s performances will also feature several professional guest artists. Performing in The Nutcracker with IPB at the Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College in Claremont performances are New York City Ballet Principal dancers Mira Nadon, former IPB Academy student, and Peter Walker. Performing in The Nutcracker with IPB at Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside performances are Oakland Ballet dancers Lawrence Chen, former IPB Company member, and Jazmine Quezada.

Inland Pacific Ballet, founded in 1994 by Southern California natives Victoria Koenig and Kevin Frank Myers, quickly became one of Southern California’s cultural jewels. Its mission is to build and sustain a professional ballet company in the Inland Empire of Southern California, committed to producing exquisitely staged productions of full-length classic story ballets as well as presenting the best in contemporary choreography. Koenig and Myers have built Inland Pacific Ballet into the premier ballet company in the region, enjoying critical acclaim while performing the largest and most varied repertoire in the area.

Inland Pacific Ballet will be at the Lewis Family Playhouse in Cucamonga December 2, 3, 9 & 10. Catch performances at Bridges Auditorium in Claremont on December 16 & 17. Wrapping up their Nutcracker season, Inland Pacific Ballet will be at Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside on December 22 & 23.

Tickets start at $61, with senior/child/student/group discounts available. Visit https://ipballet.org for more information.