Attending Ballet West’s production of The Nutcracker has become one of my most-loved holiday traditions, so I was happy to attend the matinee last Friday afternoon. I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite Ballet West dancers in leading roles as well some new faces in others. This particular performance can best be described as expressive because dancers, both leads and corps, beautifully executed the choreography and fully conveyed the emotions of their characters. They danced with natural ease and grace that were free of tension or hesitation, and this fully drew the audience into the magical fairy tale.
Dr. Drosselmeyer (Robert Fowler) picks up a gift from a shop on Christmas Eve and then goes to the home of his goddaughter Clara’s parents — Herr Stahlbaum (Dominic Ballard) and Frau Stahlbaum (Anisa Sinteral) — where guests arrive for a holiday party. Drosselmeyer entertains the children at the party with a variety of toys: dolls, trumpets, a life-sized doll (Lexi McCloud) and a life-sized bear (Solomon Fishman). He reveals the special gift he brought to be a Nutcracker shaped like a soldier which he gives to Clara (Leanna Young). She loves it, and once the party guests have left, Clara returns to the living room to play with her Nutcracker one more time before going to sleep. Clara falls asleep and enters into a fantastic dream. The Christmas tree grows, and Clara sees giant mice playing. The Nutcracker wins a battle against the Mouse King (Anderson Duhan) and becomes a handsome prince (Jonas Malinka-Thompson). The Nutcracker Prince takes Clara through the land of the Snow King (Tyler Gum) and Queen (Rylee Ann Rogers) on the way to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Amy Potter). The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier (Hadriel Diniz) treat Clara and her Nutcracker Prince to a series of performances: Spanish dancers, Arabian dancers, Chinese warriors, Mirlitons, Russian dancers, Mother Buffoon (William Lynch) with children who appear from under her skirt, and waltzing flowers. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance a pas de deux followed by their own solos. Each group of dancers returns to dance a finale piece before Clara and her Nutcracker Prince leave in a dainty sleigh.
Having seen The Nutcracker several times, I looked for impressive moments that really stood out in this particular performance. My favorite moments from last Friday’s matinee fall into two categories: dances that embodied joyful energy and enthusiasm and partner dances that displayed exquisite artistry and dancer chemistry.
The life-sized doll at the party (Lexi McCloud), the battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker Prince (including the toy soldiers), the Mirlitons, “Waltz of the Flowers” (featuring Jenna Rae Herrera and Jordan Veit), and the Russian Dancers (featuring David Huffmire) exuded vitality that was captivating to watch. Lexi McCloud delivered particularly precise footwork and beautifully extended gestures in her portrayal of the doll. I have always enjoyed the Mouse King’s overdramatic movements, but this year, the entire ensemble matched his exuberance, making the battle lively and well coordinated; it flowed more logically than in years past. Jonas Malinka-Thompson emerged as an elegant Nutcracker Prince who moved fluidly and created long, clean lines while radiating joy in his facial expressions. The Mirlitons brought a striking statuesque presence to the stage this year that really impressed me. Their movements appeared both grounded and graceful. The dancers in “Waltz of the Flowers” executed their choreography with notable unison and vibrant, flowing lines. The Russian Dancers are always exciting to watch, and this year’s group brought exceptional speed and height to their movements.
Three pas de deux were especially captivating in this year’s production: the Snow Queen (Rylee Ann Rogers) and Snow King (Tyler Gum), the Arabian Dancers (Anisa Sinteral and Dominic Ballard), and the Sugar Plum Fairy (Amy Potter) and her Cavalier (Hadriel Diniz). Each dancer appeared completely at ease with the choreography and their partner, revealing remarkable chemistry and allowing movements to unfold effortlessly. The duos took their time with the choreography so that each movement could breathe and engage the audience. Each pas de deux became more than just a routine, showcasing sublime artistry and palpable emotion. The male dancer in each duo did an exceptional job of framing and supporting his female partner, letting her intricate footwork and stunning lifts shine. In addition to these shared strengths, Anisa Sinteral and Dominic Ballard crafted mesmerizing, extended lines that made their portrayal of the Arabian Dancers truly stand out.
This performance of The Nutcracker ranks among the best I have seen, so I am happy to have continued the tradition of including it in my holiday celebrations. Ballet West continues its season with Peter Pan on February 13 – 22, 2026. Click here for information and tickets.
Salt Lake City and its surrounding areas offer a wide variety of performing arts events. Check arttix.org to find something that appeals to you.
The Good Life 
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