Nutcracker: Experience the Magic in Aptos

Santa Cruz City Ballet @ International Academy of Dance NUTCRACKER: Experience The Magic! The magic of the Nutcracker is on stage ~ We can’t wait to share it with you! Saturday, December 19th, 2026 Sunday, December 20th, 2026 Performances @ 1:00 PM & 4:30 PM at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater Tickets: NutcrackerSantaCruz.com Kick-off your holidays with JOY! Add sparkle to the season with the magic only the Santa Cruz City Ballet Nutcracker can bring. From the youngest dancing gingerbread cookies to aspiring professional dancers and guest artists, this Nutcracker has it all… Gorgeous costumes, dazzling sets, and exquisite dancing sure to delight and inspire all ages! One weekend ONLY. A steadfast holiday tradition with something new to see each year. What better way to CELEBRATE than with family, friends, beauty, smiles, community, laughter, and the Nutcracker? Experience the Magic! See you at the Nutcracker. (Photos of past performances) History of the Nutcracker The Nutcracker, Russian Shchelkunchik, ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in December 1892. The story of The Nutcracker is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. Hoffmann’s story is darker and more troubling than the version that reached the stage; the Imperial Russian Ballet choreographer Marius Petipa chose to follow a light adaptation of the story written by Alexandre Dumas père History of the Nutcracker in Santa Cruz The Nutcracker was first performed in Santa Cruz in 1988 with Santa Cruz City Ballet Director, Shannon Chipman as the Snow Queen and Co-Director, Vicki Bergland as Co-Director on the old Cabrillo stage. They have since worked on many Nutcrackers together and this is their 19th year together with the Santa Cruz City Ballet @ IAD.