Venice Teen To Dance Solo Role In Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker

Lilly Olvera, 17, of Venice, who has been dancing with Westside Ballet of Santa Monica since she was 4, has won the coveted role of the Dew Drop Fairy in the leading pre-professional company’s upcoming production of “The Nutcracker."

But the road hasn’t been easy for Olvera, a junior at New West Charter High School in Santa Monica. She has several health issues, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and chronic migraines.

To keep up with her demanding schedule as one of Westside’s advanced dancers, she’s learned to keep in shape and up to speed on cardio training, even during breaks, as well as maintain a healthy diet.

“Being able to come back to the studio has had such a positive impact on me,” said Olvera. “The pandemic greatly affected my life and those around me so being able to return to not only something familiar but also something that has brought me so much happiness over the years is extremely encouraging.”

Westside’s presentation of “The Nutcracker” has been a holiday tradition in the LA area for nearly 50 years. It’s the longest-running SoCal production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet.

This year’s production marks Westside’s return to the live stage for the first time in two years. During the COVID-19 hiatus in 2020, the company created a black box theater in its studio to perform an abbreviated virtual performance of “The Nutcracker” for families.

The 2021 production, which opens Nov. 27 and will have a two-weekend run, also features several other young dancers who reside in Venice:

• Ella Abramson, a fourth-grader at Canyon Charter Elementary School, will perform as a Snow Fairy and Blue Soldier.

• Heath Olvera, a fourth-grader at Ocean Charter School, performs as Fritz, the main character Clara’s naughty brother.

• Archer Anderson, a sixth-grader at Paul Revere Middle School, is a Victorian Party Girl.

• Lucy Dehnert, an eighth-grader at New Roads School, performs the Russian dance.

• Twin sisters Francisca and Isabel Bugacov, both freshman at New West Charter High School, will perform in a number of advanced roles - Center Chinese Duet, Snowflake, Flower, Mirliton, and Spanish.

• Ezra Galambos, a resident of Los Angeles and a freshman at Venice High School World Languages and Global Studies Magnet. will perform as a Flower, while also understudying for the roles of Snowflake and Peppermint.

Galambos said watching ballet and dance movies at the home of her great-grandmother Joan Bayley, who taught dance at Westside, inspired her to become a dancer.

“I can’t imagine my life without dancing,” she said. “I would get so bored. I love ballet because it always challenges me. No matter how hard I work and practice, there is always room for improvement. Ballet has helped teach me discipline and time management.”

Francisca Bugacov didn't begin studying ballet until she was 10, which is considered late. She started in gymnastics and thought she hated ballet until she attended her sister's first performance. She now hopes to become a professional ballerina.

“What I enjoy most about working at Westside is how I can use the other students who are more advanced than I am as a guideline to how I need to be working,” she said. “Having other students who have worked at Westside longer than I have, I see what it is I like in being a dancer and how I can incorporate those movements and styles in my own dancing.”

Bugacov also likes the emphasis on artistic expression at Westside.

“It isn’t always about the technique; it is about the artistry and the style you pair with that technique,” she said.

The students will be sharing the stage with professional dancers, such as Principal Guest Artist Chasen Greenwood, who is accompanying the Sugar Plum Fairy (Santa Monica native Daniella Zhou in her professional debut) as her Cavalier. Greenwood was featured in Dancer Magazine as “one to watch” after completing a nationwide tour as a soloist with State Street Ballet.

“The Nutcracker” will be performed at The Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Show dates and times are Saturday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 28 at 1 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. All tickets are $50. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westsideballet.com or by phone (additional fees apply) at (800) 595 – 4849 (4TIX).

Westside Ballet will be implementing a mandatory vaccination and mask policy. Children under 12 years of age will be able to attend with proof of a negative C0VID test. Please visit https://westsideballet.com/nutcracker-safety-measures for their most current protocol, which is subject to change.

On Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, Westside will release rehearsal footage previews on its social media channels.

The company’s board of directors is offering a limited number of VIP dress rehearsal tickets for select donors and community members to watch outside our large Studio 6, with mulled wine and winter hors d'oeuvres on Saturday, Nov. 20.

For more information, visit www.westsideballet.com.