A Celebration of 20 Years with "The Nutcracker"

Inland Pacific Ballet (IPB), opens its 20th season with a production of "The Nutcracker," the holiday story alongside Tchaikovsky’s well-known score. IPB’s traditional production of "The Nutcracker" will take place in Riverside at the Fox Performing Arts Center, Dec. 27. The play tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve, and sets out on a journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. A memorable dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, flowers, and the Sugar Plum Fairy stir the imagination. “While the core elements of 'The Nutcracker' story remain the same, the show is always evolving and changing. This keeps it fresh for the audience, the dancers and all of us involved with the show - from directors and ballet mistresses to costume designers. There is a great energy around the work this year. It's very inspiring,” states Artistic Director Victoria Koenig. This year the cast features young talent from throughout the region, most notably the two Claras, who at 14 and 15 years old are sure to wow this season's audiences. IPB is also delighted to have Cameron Schwanz dancing the roles of Cavalier and Nutcracker Prince. Schwanz is a thrilling dancer who was the Beast in last year’s premiere of the "Beauty and the Beast" production.