State Street Ballet returns to the Granada Theatre this holiday season with its production of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 19-21.
A Santa Barbara tradition, this year’s performances will feature live accompaniment by the Opera San Luis Obispo Orchestra, conducted by Brian Asher Alhadeff, and the company’s largest cast of the season.
Performers will include more than 100 local students from State Street Ballet Academy; some 20 pre-professional trainees from the State Street Ballet professional track; and 20 international professional company members.
The Nutcracker Prince will be performed by professional company members Noam Tsivkin and Ethan Ahuero. There are four dancers cast in the role of Clara this year, one for each performance, including company members Brenna Chumacero and Akari Kato, as well as academy students Sloan Brookshire and Amanda Kabaretti.
Kabaretti is following in the artistic traditions of her family. She is the daughter of Nir Kabaretti, Santa Barbara Symphony music & artistic director; and Santa Barbara Opera Chorus member Gaia Hubbard.
In the “Sugar Plum Pas de Deux,” audiences will see two paired casts: Akari Kato with Harold Mendez; and real-life couple Saori Yamashita and Ryan Lenkey, who recently delighted audiences when Lenkey proposed to Yamashita following their matinee performance as the title roles in “Romeo and Juliet.”
This year’s Santa Barbara performances follow State Street Ballet’s recent week-long run of “The Nutcracker” with the Spokane Symphony in Washington, as well as the company’s 20th Anniversary of touring the production to Durango, Colorado.
“Our Nutcracker is a celebration of the joy, wonder, and tradition of the season, and for many, it is the performance that first sparks their interest in ballet,” said Cecily MacDougall, executive director.
“From the orchestra’s first note to the final bows, the collaboration of company dancers, aspiring pre-professionals, academy students, and live musicians makes each performance feel like a holiday gift for both the audience and the performers,” MacDougall said.
“We are proud to offer an experience so uniquely Santa Barbara, creating cherished memories for families throughout our county each year,” she said.
“‘The Nutcracker’ is a wonderful annual tradition for everyone involved in the ballet,” said Megan Philipp, State Street Ballet artistic director. “Both our professional artists and our students look forward to revisiting the magic, humor, memorable choreography, beloved characters, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score each year.
“Our production has gradually evolved to highlight the unique talents of our artists, but the heartwarming story at its center remains a cherished part of the season for everyone.”
Performance dates and times are:
Friday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m. ; Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ; and Sunday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m.
Tickets available online at https://statestreetballet.com/the-nutcracker-2025.
In its commitment to arts accessibility, State Street Ballet will offer subsidized tickets for families in need. For subsidized tickets email office@statestreetballet.com.
State Street Ballet thanks The Manitou Fund and Nora McNeely Hurley for sponsoring all live music for the 2025/26 season.