Nevada Union Dance Community Debuts an Original Reimagining of The Nutcracker

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — This December, Nevada Union Dance Community will celebrate an exciting milestone with the debut of its first full-length production of The Nutcracker.

Performances will take place Friday, December 11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 12, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Don Baggett Theater at Nevada Union High School, 11761 Ridge Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945. The box office opens two hours prior to each performance.

Under the artistic direction of Tsal’gyur Starbuck, a former soloist with San Francisco Ballet, this original reimagining of the beloved holiday classic celebrates the beauty of classical ballet alongside imaginative choreography drawing from a rich variety of dance traditions. With original choreography by Starbuck and fellow choreographers Lauren Duchene, Elizabeth Castañeda, and Karen Attix, the production brings together artists and educators whose different experiences and perspectives help shape the work as a whole. The production’s dramatic Battle Scene, choreographed by Starbuck and featuring dancers from Nevada Union High School’s Advanced Dance program, also incorporates a spirited varsity cheer sequence choreographed by Daisy Mitchell.

Drawing on a decade as a soloist with San Francisco Ballet, where she performed internationally and worked with some of the world’s most renowned choreographers, Starbuck brings a wealth of professional experience and a deeply rooted understanding of the classical ballet tradition. Her years immersed in the company’s extensive repertoire have shaped her musical sensitivity, choreographic approach, and understanding of theatrical storytelling. That experience informs both her original choreography and her artistic vision for the production as a whole, from the musical and dramatic development of individual dances to the unfolding narrative of the full-length ballet.

Classical ballet remains central to the production, both in the choreography audiences will experience onstage and in the training that supports it. The program’s lead dancers train six days each week, developing their technique, musicality, artistry, and physical understanding through an integrated approach to ballet training. Alongside classical ballet technique and pointe work, dancers study conditioning, cross-training, injury prevention, and other forms of dance.

This approach is supported by Nevada Union Dance Community’s core faculty, including Youth Division Director Lauren Duchene and Roxanna Cohen, a physical therapist who leads the program’s conditioning instruction. Together with Starbuck, they contribute to a training environment where technical excellence, thoughtful physical preparation, and individual growth reinforce one another.

As a newly established dance school, Nevada Union Dance Community is also celebrating the beginning of its own artistic journey. Some dancers have studied with Starbuck or Duchene for many years, while others are just beginning to discover the dedication and discipline of more intensive classical ballet training. What unites them is their willingness to show up, work hard, embrace challenges, and grow together. Their commitment, along with the generous support of their families, is helping establish the foundation of a school where classical technique, musicality, artistry, and a genuine love of dance can continue to deepen and flourish.

Central to that foundation is Starbuck’s vision of a school where excellence and kindness reinforce one another. Students are learning the technique, discipline, etiquette, and traditions of classical ballet while helping cultivate an environment of belonging, mutual respect, and genuine care. The school encourages dancers to recognize and celebrate one another’s accomplishments, support each other through challenges, and approach their training with curiosity, dedication, and generosity. Through the shared work of creating this inaugural Nutcracker, students, teachers, and families are bringing that vision to life.

The production itself reflects a spirit of artistic collaboration. Lauren Duchene has been an invaluable creative partner in bringing The Nutcracker to life, contributing choreography, artistic guidance, and her talents as a performer, while playing an essential role in nurturing the school’s growing community of young dancers. Her generosity, dedication, and collaborative spirit have helped shape both the production and the foundation of Nevada Union Dance Community. She will appear as Clara’s mother, Mrs. Stahlbaum, in the Party Scene, while her choreography brings some of the production’s youngest dancers to the stage as an enchanting cast of mice and sheep. Duchene is also bringing her creative vision and original ballet choreography to the second act with Chinese Butterfly Tea, a distinctive interpretation of the traditional divertissement.

Associate Teaching Artist Elizabeth Castañeda brings her versatility as a talented choreographer and performer, contributing original choreography throughout the production and collaborating closely with Starbuck on several scenes and ensemble dances. Her work includes an authentic Classical Spanish dance that celebrates the style’s distinctive movement, musicality, port de bras, and character, as well as a lively Fosse-inspired musical theater number in the second act, which she choreographs and performs as the featured lead, alongside an ensemble that includes Duchene and Attix.

Associate Teaching Artist Karen Attix, a former member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, is creating a distinctive Arabian dance that brings modern dance and classical ballet into conversation. Drawing on her background in both ballet and her direct experience with Cunningham’s work, Attix introduces dancers to a different approach to movement, space, and composition, enriching the production with another artistic perspective. She will also appear as a performer in the second act’s Fosse-inspired musical theater number.

Together, these contributions reflect the breadth of artistic expression that can exist within a classical ballet production, honoring tradition while welcoming imagination, exploration, and the distinctive voices of the artists involved.

Clara’s Journey: Courage, Kindness, and Discovery

At the heart of this reimagining is Clara, a young girl discovering her own courage, strength, and capacity for kindness as she steps into an extraordinary new world.

When the familiar boundaries of her home begin to dissolve, the Christmas tree grows, toys come to life, and danger becomes real, Clara must find the courage to act. Her Nutcracker transforms into a Prince, and together they journey through an enchanted winter forest and into the Land of Sweets.

Rather than simply observing the dances of the second act, Clara becomes an active participant in the world around her. She meets and interacts with the characters she encounters, each offering something new to experience and discover. With curiosity, wonder, and genuine delight in connecting with others, Clara embraces these encounters, allowing her experiences and newfound friendships to enrich and transform her along the way.

Her journey reflects a belief central to Nevada Union Dance Community: that learning and growth flourish through openness, courage, kindness, and a willingness to be changed by what we discover.

Artistic Collaborations and Community Contributions

The inaugural production will welcome Sorcha Tate and Nicholas Edwards, appearing courtesy of New Ballet in San Jose, as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Tate, a Company Artist with New Ballet, has performed featured roles in The San Jose Nutcracker, Cinderella, Swan Lake, and Giselle, as well as principal and soloist roles in contemporary works. Edwards, a member of New Ballet’s Studio Company, has performed the Nutcracker Prince in The San Jose Nutcracker and the Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, and has earned recognition at national and international ballet competitions.

Founded in 2016 by dancer, choreographer, and teacher Dalia Rawson, New Ballet is San Jose’s professional ballet company and home to an ABT Certified School. Its commitment to artistic excellence, thoughtful training, and a supportive environment for developing dancers resonates with Nevada Union Dance Community’s own vision. The collaboration offers local students the opportunity to share the stage with artists working professionally in ballet and marks the beginning of what the school hopes will become an ongoing artistic relationship between the two communities. Tate, who is an ABT certified teacher herself, is also expected to return to Nevada Union Dance Community as a guest teaching artist in 2027.

The production will also welcome guest performer Jake Laub in the pivotal role of Drosselmeyer, the mysterious and imaginative figure who sets Clara’s extraordinary journey in motion. Laub began his dance career with Ballet Chicago before working with contemporary choreographers in New York City, including Jessica Gaynor Dance.

Nevada Union Dance Community has grown through a close collaboration with Nevada Union High School’s dance program, under the leadership of Nevada Union Dance Director Courtney Wadman. Instrumental in establishing the community program and bringing its inaugural Nutcracker to life, Wadman has provided invaluable organizational leadership, guidance, and hands-on support. Her dedication, alongside the contributions of faculty, families, and volunteers, inspires the collaborative spirit that has made this production possible.

Sister Magic Productions, the creative collaboration of twin sisters Elizabeth and Melissa Castañeda, brings a distinctive touch of theatrical magic to the production. With a lifetime devoted to the performing arts and a rich background in multidisciplinary dance, choreography, production, and performance, the sisters have spent decades creating visually striking, imaginative works for the stage. For this inaugural Nutcracker, Sister Magic is generously sharing pieces from its extensive theatrical costume collection, including original handmade creations and treasured pieces from the San Francisco Opera. Melissa is also bringing her artistry and craftsmanship to the production, creating original costume pieces and transforming existing designs through alterations, embellishments, and imaginative details that help bring its enchanting characters to life.

The holiday experience will begin even before the curtain rises. In collaboration with the Nevada Union Choir program, singers will welcome audiences with Christmas carols outside the theater and in the lobby, creating a festive atmosphere as guests arrive.

A New Holiday Tradition for Nevada County

Beyond the performances themselves, this inaugural production represents months of dedication, creative exploration, and shared effort among students, faculty, associate teaching artists, guest performers, families, and community volunteers.

Every element of this production reflects the shared creativity, generosity, and dedication of the artists, educators, families, and community members who have come together to bring this first Nutcracker to life.

For Nevada Union Dance Community, this first Nutcracker is an opportunity to bring people together through the arts and celebrate the accomplishments of local dancers. The company hopes this original interpretation will become a cherished Nevada County holiday tradition, growing and evolving with the community for years to come.

Performance Event and Contact Information