SF Ballet’s Nutcracker is a dazzling tradition that’s thankfully not going away
As the first U.S. city to perform The Nutcracker in 1944, San Francisco holds a unique connection to the ballet.
By Katie Sweeney
The Nutcracker Ballet has been a holiday tradition I’ve enjoyed my entire life. As a child, I danced in Petaluma School of Ballet’s annual production every December, even portraying the coveted role of Clara. As an adult, I look forward to seeing San Francisco Ballet’s version of the Christmas classic each winter.
So imagine my surprise when I opened Instagram two days before Thanksgiving and discovered this post from @dancersofsfballet. Among many demands, ballerinas and stage managers wanted better wages, more health and safety precautions, and less use of unpaid students. Luckily, an agreement was reached last Thursday, and the curtain went up on the spectacular show on Friday night!
There was a buzz in the air — it felt like a mixture of excitement for the debut of the beloved story ballet and relief that the performance was happening. If you need a jolt of holiday cheer, see this excellent presentation.
The Nutcracker has a special relationship with San Francisco: It was first performed in the United States here in 1944. Over the past 80 years, the show has had five versions. The current variation is celebrating its 20th year in production. Former Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson staged it in 2004, and it has since become a Bay Area classic known for being set in San Francisco in 1915. The scenery and costumes, designed by Michael Yeargan and Martin Pakledinaz, respectively, reflect this period.
Victorian-era toys, architectural elements, and chic gowns are seen throughout Act 1. The little girl who played Clara, Mitsuki Kobayashi Denman, was demure and well-acted, but her brother Fritz, portrayed by Mateo Wexler, stole the show. He was superb — mischievous and boyish, a star in the making. Joshua Jack Price, as the Jack-in-the-Box, was agile and quick, fluid and flexible — he could have been a toy. As the Ballerina Doll, Julia Rowe was equally adept, pretty, and precious, with stiff movements reminiscent of a mechanical robot. With its live cannon and menacing Mouse King, the fight scene was a flurry of activity and intensity.
My favorite part of The Nutcracker is the snow scene, and SF Ballet’s involves 200 pounds of paper snow. As it falls, the snowflakes twirl and jump, and my heart races, worried that a dancer might fall on the thickening layer of paper on the stage. Last season’s newly appointed star principal, Snow Queen Jasmine Jimison, was luminous and elegant. Her King, Fernando Carratalá Coloma, performing the role for the first time, was commanding and powerful. He and Jimison make a regal pairing, exuding effortless grace while commanding the stage.
In the second act, Sasha de Sola was flawless as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her technical prowess is unmatched — no one can spin as fast as she twirls around the stage. Other standout dancers include Sasha Mukhamedov as the seductive genie who emerges from a golden teapot during Arabian, Pemberley Ann Olson as a French cancan girl with a pink ribbon, and Russian’s Alexis Francisco Valdes, whose consecutive toe touches had the audience cheering.
One visual effect that worked exceptionally well was when Clara transforms into an adult princess and dances with her Nutcracker prince during the grand pas de deux. Principal Wona Park looked like a grown-up version of Kobayashi Denman, and it was a believable trompe l’oeil. Park’s performance alongside cavalier Wei Wang was majestic and magical.
As a whole, the entire show was a triumph. There was not even a misplaced finger and no significant errors. The Nutcracker was a joyous celebration of dance, proving that the SF Ballet team isn’t going anywhere but where they should be: performing in front of an adoring audience. Here’s to an exciting season to come.
Katie Sweeney is a San Francisco-based writer.
The Bold Italic publishes first-person stories on topics that are on the brains and lips of San Franciscans. We’re a hub for conversations to be heard and discussed, and we celebrate all that’s great about living in San Francisco and the Bay Area. We hope our continuing conversation will get you thinking, talking, and inspiring you to share your opinions with us on living in San Francisco.
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What we’re doing this week
Your Fucked Up Relationship
Since 2011, this San Francisco improv show has been turning heartbreak into belly laughs. Share your cringiest, wildest love stories, and watch the cast spin them into hilarious, unscripted scenes. No pressure to share—but if you do, we promise to make your ex look even worse. Come for the laughs, stay for the chaos, and leave knowing you’re not alone in the dating Dumpster fire.
WHEN: December 6-14, and more dates as they roll in.
WHERE: Endgames Improv Theater, 2965 Mission St San Francisco, CA 94110
Holiday Gaiety with the San Francisco Symphony
Join conductor Edwin Outwater and drag performer Peaches Christ for a night of festive music and irreverent humor. This one-of-a-kind concert blends classical pieces with campy holiday fun, offering something for every musical taste. The performances range from holiday classics to unexpected twists, ensuring surprises around every corner. It’s a glamorous, hilarious, and memorable evening that captures the quirky spirit of San Francisco.
WHEN: December 13, 2024, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco