An invitation to attend a holiday production of “The Nutcracker” — that of Westside Ballet of Santa Monica, with live music from the Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra, and starring New York City Ballet principal dancers Tiler Peck & Roman Mejia — is an offer a ballet fan finds hard to refuse.
Peck is at the peak of her powers as a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet; she’s the leader of her own touring posse; as well as a burgeoning choreographer of great promise. She recently debuted her first choreographic work for New York City Ballet, Concerto for Two Pianos, as a part of NYCB’s 75th anniversary season. The Texas-born Mejia joined NYCB’s corps de ballet in 2017, climbed the ranks as soloist by 2021 and was named a Principal Dancer in 2023.
This production is Southern California’s longest-running “Nutcracker” — in its 51st year of presentation. Behind it, now in spirit only, is one of our great ballet pedagogues of this city, the late Yvonne Mounsey. She and her longtime partner, Rosemary Valaire, launched “The Nutcracker” in 1974 as a galvanizing event for students, parents, and the community. Mounsey, who danced with NYCB from 1949 – 1958, had herself been a firey “Spanish” dancer in George Balanchine’s iconic production of the Russian ballet, which he first staged in New York in 1954. NYCB’s “The Nutcracker” toured, even playing the Greek Theater in Los Angeles in August! Mounsey would have been on that stage.
Along with the school’s current students on stage, a klatch of its most successful alumni will join Peck and Mejia. They include Lucia Connolly, Adrian Blake Mitchell, and Lyrica Woodruff. Their excellent training is on view in photos that reflect astonishingly precise, highly aesthetic placement.
Other prominent alum have included Monique Meunier (NYCB, ABT), Anna Liceica, (ABT) Martine Harley (Houston Ballet), Melissa Barak (NYCB, Los Angeles Ballet, Barak Ballet), Andrew Veyette (NYCB), Stayce Camparo (Kansas City Ballet) and Francis Veyette (Pennsylvania Ballet).
Yes, perfect placement. But there’s also verve and high energy on that stage. Just get a load of Spencer Collins!
photo credit: sarah madison photography
The Nutcracker | Westside Ballet | The Broad Stage | Nov 30 – Dec 8
In 2024, Los Angeles dance critic Debra Levine marks forty years of translating an ephemeral art form into the written word — in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Dance Magazine. It all started in Hong Kong at the South China Morning Post. Debra founded arts•meme in 2008.