Every Christmas, Mendocino Ballet performs The Nutcracker, and this year’s production, celebrating the 40th year anniversary, will bring the classic Christmas sentiment we all look forward to each year. With iconic music, beautiful costumes, and the collaboration of instructors, dancers, and a skilled technical crew, The Nutcracker continues to be one of Ukiah’s most beloved holiday traditions.
This year marks a special milestone for Mendocino Ballet, not only is it the 40th anniversary, but also will be Artistic Director Esther Hansen’s first year directing The Nutcracker since the new management. Hansen strives to respect tradition while also splurging in personal creativity and innovation. “This is my first year directing The Nutcracker, which I feel brings a fresh perspective and new energy to a beloved tradition. Combining the legacy of the past forty years and stepping in with a new artistic vision makes this production particularly special.”
The Nutcracker is the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a wooden nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. After midnight, the toy comes to life, leading Clara on a magical journey. Together, they battle the evil Mouse Queen alongside the Nutcracker’s army of toy soldiers. After defeating the Mouse Queen, they travel through the Land of Snow. They are finally welcomed into the Land of the Sweets by the Sugar Plum Fairy. In this fantasy land, Clara and the Nutcracker are greeted by dancers representing treats from around the world. Dancers portraying Spanish chocolate, Arabian coffee, Chinese tea, Russian ribbon candy, lively gingersnaps, dancing marzipan, the graceful waltz of the flowers, and the Sugar Plum fairy, all rejoice and thank the Nutcracker for defeating the evil Mouse Queen.
This is a ballet full of fantasy, color, grace, and nostalgia. Each year, The Nutcracker creatively blends storytelling, music, and movement in a way that continues to charm audiences.
But as magical as it seems, much work is put in behind the scenes to make such a production seem so effortless. From choreography, costume design, lighting, and more, much care and precision are put into every detail. Choreographing the ballet is a tedious and laborious process, requiring a perfect balance of tradition and creativity. Artistic Director of Mendocino Ballet, Esther Hansen, says, “Any large-scale production comes with challenges, especially when there are limitations.” However, she stresses the importance of adaptability for unprecedented circumstances, “As an artist, part of the job is learning how to work within those boundaries and find creative solutions. While it can be tough at times, those challenges push us to create something thoughtful, adaptive, and truly meaningful.”
Rehearsals are often long, especially in the weeks leading up to the performance. Balancing the demands of ballet can be challenging, especially for dancers who are also juggling school. It is essential to stay organized as rehearsals grow longer, performances approach, and finals arrive. Reagan Frost, a Junior at Ukiah High, says, “Balancing them is super hard, especially when we get closer to the show and have to stay in rehearsals later. I try to do my school work during the day as soon as I get home, or I use U-time.” Jocelyn Torres also adds, “Just like any sport, balancing academics and the rehearsal schedule is hard–sometimes I have to wake up early in the morning to do homework if I’m too exhausted after ballet.”
The role of the Nutcracker is very special, and this year it will be performed by Ukiah High Junior, Will Mazziall. This role requires much work and effort put into it, needing to know choreography in many eventful scenes. This will be Mazzia’s first time performing The Nutcracker, and upon asking him why he agreed to this responsibility, he responds, “You guys said it was a ballet performance, and I love to dance. I have also done plays before when I was younger, so I thought it would be fun.” He mentions he has also learned a lot about himself from this experience, “It opened my eyes to something I never knew I liked.”
For dancers, The Nutcracker is more than a yearly performance; it’s a nostalgic tradition. Most dancers have been dancing together in The Nutcracker since they were young; they once looked up to the older dancers who performed the role that they now get to dance for themselves. The teamwork that goes into this production, friends helping each other, sharing rehearsals, laughter, and the tradition of dancing together before Christmas, is what makes this ballet so meaningful. Jocelyn Torres, a Junior at Ukiah High, says, “Each year the Nutcracker remains special because I get to have long nights with my friends at dance, and the rehearsals are always fun – even when we’re tired.” Mazzia speaks about the community and collaboration among cast members: “My favorite part of learning The Nutcracker is probably seeing everyone together, all participating.”
While it’s always bittersweet to watch seniors dance this ballet for the last time – this year’s senior being Io Sanchez – dancers treasure these moments and look forward to this time of year, not just for the performance, but for the memories and nostalgic sentiment it brings.
While The Nutcracker can be emotional, we can’t forget that it’s meant to be a whimsical and exciting Christmas experience. Lively dances like Russian candy canes, magical scenes like Waltz of the Snowflakes, and stunning costumes are what make this Christmas tradition so unique. One of the most unique characters in the ballet is the evil Mouse Queen, who will be performed this year by Ukiah High Junior, Jocelyn Torres. Reagan Frost mentions that her favorite role this year is Rose Queen, the lead role in the iconic Waltz of the Flowers scene. Other popular scenes among dancers are the battle scene–a vibrant and lively fight- and the Waltz of the Snowflakes, where dancers leap across the stage as delicate faux snow trickles from above the stage.
Part of what makes ballet such a unique craft is the application of physical toll with artistry. This artistic aspect of The Nutcracker is what enriches the audience and is why tickets continue to sell each year. Hansen aims to direct an engaging performance that fully encapsulates the audience, “I hope the audience gets fully wrapped up in the story and carried away from their daily lives so that they can truly escape into the world we have created for them–-I want them to feel as though they’re not just watching a performance, but experiencing it alongside the dancers.”
With the perfect mix of local talent, creative storytelling, and festive sentiment, Mendocino Ballet’s 40th anniversary of The Nutcracker promises to delight families and those in our local community. Whether you attend each year or this is your first, Mendocino Ballet invites you to come and experience this magical Christmas tradition!
Performance Dates:
Friday, December 19 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 20 at 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 20 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 21 at 2:00 pm
Audriena Ramos
Audriena Ramos is a junior at Ukiah High. She is from Alpine, Texa and moved to Ukiah five years ago. This is her first year taking journalism. She is the vice president of the UHS Women's Empowerment club, and outside of school, she enjoys doing ballet with Mendocino Ballet.