Marina del Rey ballerinas are gearing up to dance in Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s 51st annual Nutcracker production. (Left to Right) Back: Luna Soleil Alatorre, Koko Miyamoto, and Nadia Hofer. Front: Mackenzie Olesky and Cypress Classen-Main. (Sarah Madison)
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Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s 51st annual production of The Nutcracker is Southern California’s longest-running production of this beloved ballet. The performances, held at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage from November 30 to December 8, are a highlight of the holiday season, showcasing a blend of professional artistry and pre-professional dedication.
Koko Miyamoto will dance the Lead French Mirliton in this year’s production of the Nutcracker. Photo Credit: Sarah MadisonKoko Miyamoto (16), a Junior at Geffen Academy, dazzles in the solo role of Lead Peppermint Candy. She also is a part of the corps de ballet in the enchanting Waltz of the Flowers, the Land of Snow, and performs as a French Mirliton. Koko has found her passion for dance at Westside Ballet. “It feels magical to perform on stage,” she says. “I love being part of this beautiful tradition.”Koko Miyamoto in the wings in Westside’s 2023 Nutcracker Production where she performed lead Candy Cane. Photo Credit: Anne SlatteryNadia Hofer (16), a Junior at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, takes on advanced roles, including the mesmerizing Arabian Pas de Deux, Center Peppermint Candy Solo, Center Chinese, and as a Snowflake corps de ballet. A dedicated ballet student at Westside since the age of 8, Nadia balances her rigorous training schedule with an eye to the future: “I would love to dance and go to college at the same time. As the world modernizes, hopefully there will be more options to dance professionally and pursue a solid college education simultaneously.”Crossroads School student Nadia Hofer will dance the Arabian Coffee pas de deux in Westside Ballet’s 51st annual Nutcracker. Photo Credit: Sarah MadisonLuna Soleil Alatorre (13), an eighth grader at Crossroads School, has been a part of Westside Ballet since she was five years old. This marks her fifth Nutcracker season, where she will perform in the dynamic Russian dance and the Peppermint Candy variation. Luna shares, “I love sharing the stage with my friends and making people happy. Seeing how magical it looks from a little kid’s perspective fills me with joy.” Outside of ballet, Luna has recently ventured into acting and modeling and dreams of combining her love for dance with future studies in zoology or the performing arts.
Mackenzie Olesky (10), a fifth grader at Coeur d’Alene School, brings energy and enthusiasm to her role as a Red Soldier. This marks Mackenzie’s second Nutcracker. Having begun her ballet journey at age four, Mackenzie’s favorite part of dancing is the rehearsal process, where she sees herself and her peers grow with each practice. Mackenzie says what she enjoys about performing is, “Anytime I step on stage I can’t stop smiling especially when my family and friends are watching. But, I just love performing in front of people in general!” Mackenzie is also an accomplished runner who qualifies for the mile runs at her school every year, and has run a seven minute and five seconds mile.
(Left to Right) Koko Miyamoto, Nadia Hofer, and Tatiana Burns in studio dress rehearsal for French Mirlitons. Photo Credit: Anne SlatteryCypress Classen-Main (9), a Marina del Rey resident and fourth grader, also at Crossroads, is a versatile young performer. This marks her second Nutcracker performance with Westside Ballet, where she will take on the roles of Polichinelle and Red Soldier. Cypress is a competitive ice skater and hockey player, and also studies hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, Jiu Jitsu, and music— including choir, guitar, and piano. She is Afro-Latina, born in Costa Rica, and speaks Spanish fluently. Represented by the Zuri Agency for modeling and acting, Cypress is passionate about performing. “I love the performance part of dance most of all because I can finally show the audience everything I’ve been learning. The Nutcracker means so much to so many people during the holidays, and it’s so cool to make the audience happy and hear their applause,” she shares.Cypress Classen-Main rehearsing as a Red Soldier in the battle scene of The Nutcracker. Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker not only offers audiences timeless holiday enchantment but also serves as a training ground for the next generation of ballet stars. This year’s production features a new choreographed pas de deux for Clara and her Prince, enhanced set designs, and live accompaniment by the Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra. Marina del Rey’s young dancers join over 130 performers, portraying beloved characters such as Angels, Soldiers, and Snowflakes in this cherished holiday tradition.
The production is further elevated by the return of Westside Ballet alumna and New York City Ballet principal Tiler Peck, who reprises her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Sharing the stage with Peck offers these young dancers unparalleled inspiration, reinforcing the legacy of Westside Ballet as a community touchstone and a launching pad for future stars.
Celebrate the season and support Marina del Rey’s talented young dancers as they take part in this magical production. As of publication time, all Tiler Peck performances are sold out, with Tickets still available for the pre-professional artists dancing all solo roles to the live orchestra for the Friday, December 6th at 7pm performance. Tickets available for that show at tinyurl.com/12624ballet.
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