Nutcracker Production Brings Pass Area Youth Together This Christmas

BEAUMONT, CA — Pass Area residents are invited to see dozens of tiny ballerinas and budding professional dancers as they take the stage this weekend to present The Nutcracker.

Put on by Beaumont-based Dance Spectrum Dance Studio, dancers ranging in age from 3 years old to 56 years old will perform the classic ballet— with a some modern twists, like an acro number featuring gingerbread people flipping on stage.

"The charm of seeing the littlest dancers perform as baby mice and gum drops, and the teenagers perform technically challenging roles such as the Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy is what makes our productions truly charming and entertaining," the dance studio's artistic director and owner, Pearl Wardlow, told Patch.

This marks the 10-year anniversary of the production by Dance Spectrum, who hosts the show every other year.

A total of four shows will be held on Friday and Saturday at Hemet High School, located at 41701 Stetson Avenue.

The show dates and times are as follows:

• Friday, Dec. 16 at 4 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.

Tickets cost $20 if purchased prior to the shows by calling (951) 769-8123. They will also be available at the door, for $25 each.

Wardlow told Patch that the show is a passion project.

"My favorite part of presenting story ballets such as 'The Nutcracker' is the time spent during rehearsals on Saturdays with the kids; we become like a big dance family," she said. "Then, seeing all of the elements come together at the theater— the costumes, the sets, the choreography... the lights! To see the students light up when they go stage makes my heart soar!"

Past performers in the Beaumont Nutcracker have gone on to dance in music videos, at Disneyland, and have majored in dance at college. And while some are now pursuing careers in dance, others are working in kinesiology, the chiropractic industry and other fields, she said.

"Most importantly, they leave [Dance Spectrum] with a strong work ethic, confidence, and a love for the art of dance," Wardlow said.

The performers for this year's show come from the likes of public, private, charter, and home schools from the Beaumont, Banning, Cherry Valley, Yucaipa, Calimesa and Redlands communities.

Dance Spectrum Dance Studio was founded in 1999.

The full list of performers includes:

Alyssa Adsit, Arabella Aguirre, Sebastian Aguirre, Emma Alexander, Rachel Alford, Adrienne Anderson, Olivia Avina, Alea Ballain, Bailey Barron, Emmeline Barnett, Madeleine Barnett, Kamora Booze, Avery Brown, Zoey Brown, Lauren Browning, Gracie Buley, Marina Bullock, Eleanor Butler, Cassie & Andromeda Bryant, Lilly Cade, Ava Camacho, Khloe Carlton, Michaela Cate, Annabelle Cater, Madyson Clays, Brooklyn Conner, Emily Cornish, Kayla Cornish, June Cournoyer, Charlotte Covarrubias, Elizabeth Covarrubias, Emma Covarrubias, Blakelynn Crain, Kaitlyn Crain, Gwyneth Croce, MacKenzie Cuda, Madison Cuda, Aspen Deam, MacKenzie DiFiesta, Grace Dennett, Ella Duke, Ella Fakes, Elise Farr, Zoey Ferber, Harlow Gonzales, Jesina Guzman, Sophia Hastings, Hayden Hellein, Larissa Hellein, Kayleigh Hendricks, Alli Hilburn, Natalie Jacobson, Claire Johnson, Jasmine Johnson, Meah Jones, Sophie Kalter, Annabelle Kelleher, Benjamin Kelleher, Ella Lockmiller, Charlotte Lawson, Sina Lopez, Phillip Lower, Alivia Malsberger, Eva Martinez, Nadiya Martinez, MaKenna McCartin, Henry McClure, Ruth McClure, Daniela McGann, KaraLina McGann, Avery Minor, Emma Meza, Sofia Morasca, Julia Nelson, Brooke Niblack, Allison Ogden, Gabriella Ortiz, Angelina Palomino, Eliza Palmer, Brooklyn Parker, Mila Payan, Anaabelle Pelayo, Dayanara Pena Felix, Aubrey Peterson, Madison Peterson, Joseph Poulin, Phoebe Rogers, Rayleigh Roush, Adelyn Ruiz, Valerie Ruiz, Emerie Ruiz, Olivia Scott, Serena Scott, Addison Simanek, Maleah Smallwood, Marlee Smallwood, Allison Smith, Paislee Smith, Rachel Sonyi, Allison Studer, Caitlin Studer, Katherine Studer, Isabella Swoboda, Sarah Swoboda, Sophia Tandoc, Esmaelien Tendean, Addyson Timmeran, Aspen Timmerman, Jenelle Tuazon, Elanor Ustimchuck, Kinsley Warrick, Alian Wardlow, Chloe Wardlow, Nathan Wardlow, Lee Wardlow, Pearl Wardlow, Ariel Williams.