Nutcracker 2026
THE NUTCRACKER
December 12-13 2026
Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall
Celebrate the holidays with Ballet Hawaii’s lavish Hawaiian-themed Nutcracker, set in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1858. Choreographed by Septime Webre, the production stars New York City Ballet principal dancers Chun Wai Chan and Indiana Woodward, with guest artists from Eugene Ballet and Sacramento Ballet, alongside a cast of 140 Ballet Hawaii students and local celebrities.
Beloved holiday dances take on a distinctly Hawaiian character. The story features Washington Place resident Mary Dominis and a young Liliʻuokalani. Crown Flowers, Hibiscus, and Plumeria fill the garden; ʻiʻiwi birds and honu join the cast; and toy soldiers wear uniforms inspired by the Royal Guard. The Waltz of the Snowflakes unfolds on the slopes of Mauna Kea. It is a holiday tradition filled with wonder and the beauty of Hawaiʻi.
*Tickets are available exclusively via the Blaisdell Box Office and Ticketmaster.com
What better way to celebrate the Holidays than by combining a timeless Nutcracker with the grandeur and elegance of the Hawaiian monarchy?
Sponsored by
2026 Guest Artists
Photo Credit: Erin Baiano
Indiana Woodward
New York City Ballet
(The Sugar Plumeria Fairy)
Indiana Woodward was born in Paris, France and began her dance training at the age of ten at the
Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet in Venice, California. Ms. Woodward began studying at the School of
American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, during the 2010 summer course
and enrolled as a full-time student that fall.
In August 2012, she became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the
corps de ballet in December 2012. Ms. Woodward was promoted to the rank of soloist dancer in
February 2017, and to principal dancer October 2021.
Photo Credit: Erin Baiano
Chun Wai Chan
New York City Ballet
(The Cavalier)
Born in Guangdong, China, Mr. Chan trained at the Guangzhou Art School from 2004 to 2010. In 2010 he was a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne, which earned him a full scholarship to study with Houston Ballet’s second company, Houston Ballet II. In 2012 Chan joined Houston Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet and he was promoted to principal dancer at HB in 2017. His repertory with Houston Ballet included leading roles in ballets by Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, John Cranko, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Edwaard Liang, Wayne McGregor, Trey McIntyre, and Justin Peck, among others.
Mr. Chan joined NYCB as a soloist in August 2021, and in May 2022 was promoted to principal dancer.
Mr. Chan has appeared as a contestant on the Chinese television show Dance Smash, as well as at the Nijinsky Gala XLI in Hamburg, Germany (2015), New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival (2015), and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (2018). Chan was also a Guest Principal Dancer with Hong Kong Ballet in 2018 and 2019.
Isabella Velasquez
Sacramento Ballet
(The Snow Queen & Hi'iaka)
Isabella Velasquez began her training in Orange County, California, at the Maple Conservatory of Dance. At 17, she joined The Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C., as a trainee, and later continued her studies in the graduate program at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for two years.
Isabella joined Sacramento Ballet in 2014 and has since performed numerous leading roles, including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Cinderella in Paul Vasterling’s Cinderella, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Mina in Michael Pink’s Dracula, Ophelia in Stephen Mills’ Hamlet, and principal roles in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Donizetti Variations, Tarantella, and Apollo. She has also been featured in neoclassical and contemporary works by renowned choreographers including Alejandro Cerrudo, Ma Cong, Septime Webre, Adam Hougland, Ron Cunningham, Amy Seiwert, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Val Caniparoli, Twyla Tharp, Ihsan Rustem, and Amy Hall Garner.
Outside of Sacramento, Isabella has performed with the National Choreographers Initiative in Irvine, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery in San Francisco, and has guested multiple times with Nevada Dance Company. She has also danced and choreographed for Capital Dance Project and Ballet Project OC. In 2024, Isabella was selected for an artist residency at Moulin/Belle in Mareuil, France, where she focused on choreography and collaborative creation in an international setting.
Outside of the studio, Isabella enjoys exploring Midtown Sacramento with her two beloved wiener dogs, Leonardo and Luigi.
Wyatt McConville-McCoy
Sacramento Ballet
(The Snow King & Lohiau)
Born in Portland, OR, Wyatt McConville-McCoy began his ballet training at Oregon Ballet Theatre. In
2017, he joined Boston Ballet II, under the tutelage of Peter Stark, where he performed Harlequinade
in Boston Ballet’s At Home Series and alongside the main company in Jerome Robbin’s West Side
Story. Two years later he joined Atlanta Ballet II where he had the privilege of performing in ballets
such as La Bayadere and in featured roles of The Nutcracker while on tour to the Kennedy Center.
Wyatt joined Sacramento Ballet in 2021, where he has graced the stage in roles such Gnome in The
Nutcracker, the Men’s Trio in Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino, and the featured pas de
deux in Isaac Bates-Vineza’s Rumor as well as in Jennifer Archibald’s Soar.
Enrico Hipolito
Sacramento Ballet
(The Pueo & The Hawaiian Warrior)
Enrico Hipolito is a Seattle native who began his training through Pacific Northwest
Ballet’s outreach program, “Dance Chance”. He continued his dance education at PNB on full scholarship until graduation. He finished his training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, performing principal roles in many ballets including Balanchine’s Emeralds, Serenade, and Western Symphony.
Enrico joined Ballet West 2 in 2015 where he spent two seasons performing alongside
the main company. In 2017, Enrico joined Kansas City Ballet and performed renowned
works including William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and Val
Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camelias. Enrico has had works created on him by Annabelle
Lopez Ochoa, Ma Cong, Val Caniparoli, Norbert de la Cruz, and Kate Skarpetowska at
KCB and Richmond Ballet, where he continued his career prior to joining Sacramento
Ballet in 2023. Enrico danced with Sacramento Ballet for three seasons and continues
to dance as a freelance artist.
Mark Tucker
Eugene Ballet
(The Palace Guard Doll, The Saltimbanque Doll, The Orchid Man)
Mark Tucker is honored to be taking part in his sixteenth season with Eugene Ballet Company. Mark began his training in his home state of Hawaii with Ballet Hawaii. As well as continuing his training in Miami, Houston, and Washington DC, Mark attended The North Carolina School of the Arts where he graduated high school and obtained a BFA in Classical Ballet with a minor in Modern Dance. Mark joined Eugene Ballet in 2008 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2015. Mark has defined his career as a strong partner and has had the opportunity to dance an expanding range of roles with choreographers and directors both internationally and from across the country. Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence, Septime Webre’s Alice in Wonderland, Mauricio Wainrot’s Anne Frank, Val Caniparoli’s Tutto Eccetto il Lavandino and Tryptic, Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain, Head Wrangler in Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo, Heather Maloy’s Stranger, as well as works by Jessica Lang, Amy Seiwert, Stephanie Martinez, Devon Carney, Victoria Morgan, Salvatore Aiello, Stanton Welch, and EB’s Suzanne Haag to name a few. In 2017, as a guest artist with Ballet Hawaii, he was featured as Waltz Boy in George Balanchine’s Serenade. Mark began dancing lead roles with EBC in 2012 as the head male in Rite of Spring with, now, Associate Artistic Director Jennifer Martin. He has had the privilege of premiering many lead roles in Toni Pimble’s works including Jay Gatsby from the classic novel and more recently Petruchio in Pimble’s Taming of the Shrew. He also enjoys bringing characters to life onstage in roles such as Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, and the sultan in Scheherazade. In 2015 Mark starred alongside his wife, EBC Principal Dancer Danielle Tolmie, in Pimble’s Carmen. “Dancing the role of Don Jose across from my wife was one of the most memorable and powerful moments I have ever experienced on stage.” He then added “the only thing that may beat that is dancing Siegfried with Danielle while she was pregnant with our first son Luca. He was moving around like crazy during Black Swan.” 2022-2023 was a big year for Mark, dancing Desire in The Sleeping Beauty, as well as being a part of two world premieres, Petrushkaand The Little Mermaid. He’s also happy to announce the birth of his Third son. Follow him and Danielle on Instagram @markdani8688
Photo Credit: Taylor Cullen
Candi Shell
(Mama Moana)
CANDI SHELL is Honolulu’s hilarious drag singing sensation with a vast library of comedy spoofs and original music. Starting her career in Dallas, TX, she quickly moved to New York City, where she opened for comedy legend Joan Rivers and even appeared as herself alongside RuPaul on an episode of Ugly Betty. Candi has performed at countless venues nationwide, including opening for Ludacris at the Belly Up Tavern in San Diego. Now based in Honolulu, Candi hosts monthly events at Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand, Hard Rock Cafe, and other venues around the island. She’s also known for her work with charity events and Drag Story Time. In 2022, Candi emceed and was a featured performer with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra at the historic Hawaii Theatre. Then, this year, Candi appeared again at the Hawaii Theatre, opening for drag icon Lady Bunny for her stand-up special Don’t Bring The Kids.
David Weaver
Ballet Hawaii Faculty
(Herr Drosselmeyer)
David Weaver Perez was raised in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, and began his ballet training at the School of American Ballet in 1982, studying there until 1990. He later apprenticed with American Ballet Theatre and Houston Ballet before becoming a principal dancer with Midwest Regional Ballet and Ballet Wichita, and a soloist with Ballet West. Throughout his career, David has performed an extensive range of leading and character roles. His repertoire includes “The King” in David Parsons’ The Envelope, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, Jonathan Harker in Dracula, the Sanguinic Male in Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, and the title role in Balanchine’s Apollo. He has danced numerous leading male roles in The Nutcracker, including Snow King, Dewdrop Cavalier, and Sugar Plum Cavalier. Among his favorite works are Varone’s Bench Quartet, Ben Stevenson’s The Pianist, and Balanchine’s Symphony in C, Themes and Variations, Serenade, and Billy the Kid. He has also danced with the companies of Doug Varone and David Parsons and appeared as a guest artist with numerous companies across the United States and abroad.
David’s career extends deeply into musical theatre as well. He appeared as both Mark and Paul in the National Tour of A Chorus Line and as Fate/Ensemble in the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. His additional credits include the title role in Jekyll and Hyde, Cain/Japheth in Children of Eden, Charlye in Brigadoon, Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!, Bobby in Cabaret, Man 1 in Songs for a New World, and Bobby in Company. In 2004, he toured internationally as dance captain, vocalist, and fiddler for Musicology World Tour. In addition to performing, David has guest lectured, choreographed original works, and taught for ballet companies and studios around the world. He is thrilled to be in Hawai‘i and to continue sharing his artistry with new communities.
Elyana Belatti
Ballet Hawaii Student
(Clara & Crown Flower)
Elyana Belatti is an 11th grader enrolled at Roosevelt High School. She has been dancing since the age of 4, and has been dancing with Ballet Hawaii for 9 years. Elyana has also danced with Honolulu Dance Studio for 3 years focusing on hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary dance. She has participated in summer intensives with Ballet Hawaii, Honolulu Dance Studio, Cincinnati Ballet and most recently Vaganova International Program. Elyana has performed in numerous competition pieces including “The Moment I Said It” at Spotlight Honolulu 2024 and “Heart Of Glass” which made it to the finals division at YAGP 2025. Outside of dancing, Elyana enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.
Grayson Ito
Ballet Hawaii Student
(Drosselmeyer's Nephew, The Nutcracker Prince & The Popoki)
Grayson Ito is an 11th-grade student at Mid-Pacific Institute. He has performed onstage since age nine and began his dance training in seventh grade through Mid-Pacific’s Certificate Dance Program. Grayson joined Ballet Hawaii in 2023 and has attended summer intensives at Ballet Hawaii, Eugene Ballet, and Boston Ballet. His performance credits include Ballet Hawaii’s The Nutcracker and seasonal showcases, along with Mid-Pacific Institute’s spring and fall performances.
Regina Ahlgren
Ballet Hawaii Faculty
(The Rat Queen)
WIP
Matthew Ohta-Weber
Ballet Hawaii Faculty
(Consul Herr Silberhaus)
Matthew grew up locally in Honolulu and trained at Punahou Dance School, Dance Central, and 24-VII. He spent summers at Interlochen Arts Camp, The Martha Graham School, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and more, before graduating from Southern Methodist University with a BFA in Dance Performance, and a BA in Communications.
Throughout his artistic journey, Matthew studied with Finis Jhung, Karen Kriete, Max Stone, Jana Hicks, Danny Burazceski, Douglas Becker & William Forsythe, and Shawn Stevens & Twyla Tharp. Professionally, Matthew spent 16 years collaborating with Alison Chase, the “mother of Pilobolus and Momix.” During this tenure, he performed and created over two dozen original works, while staging and coaching Ms. Chase’s works for numerous companies and schools around the country & globe.
Aria Kaneshige
Ballet Hawaii Faculty
(The Hibiscus Flower Doll, Snowflake, & The Orchid Lead)
Born and raised in Honolulu, Aria Kaneshige discovered her love for ballet at the age of seven when she took her first class at the Ballet Hawaii Performing Arts School. Aria has since enjoyed training in its Summer Intensives, performing with the Performing Ensemble, and dancing in annual productions of The Nutcracker—highlighted by her favorite role as Clara in 2022. Aria graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2024 with dual degrees in Cinematic Arts and Dance. Aria serves on Ballet Hawaii’s staff as the Social Media Manager and as a member of the teaching faculty, where she loves sharing her passion and inspiring the next generation of young dancers to find joy in dancing.
Emma Belatti
Ballet Hawaii Alumni
(Snowflake & The Dewdrop Fairy)
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Emma Belatti graduated from McKinley High School in 2023 and has been dancing with Ballet Hawaii for 18 years. She is currently in her last semester at UH as a sociology major and dance minor. She has participated in Ballet Hawaii’s The Nutcracker, Ballet Chicago’s summer intensive, and numerous Ballet Hawai’i productions, including its inaugural Performing Ensemble.
Emma also shows her love of dance by training in multiple styles. She especially enjoys hip-hop and has competed in several competitions with her previous schools and local hiphop crews. This semester she is the president of the UHM dance club, E1R1.
Garry Umeda
Ballet Hawaii Alumni
(John Owen Dominis, South Sea Pirate Rat, & The Chinese Fisherman)
TBD
Mia Asamoto
Ballet Hawaii Student
(Snowflake, I'iwi Lead, Crown Flower)
Mia Asamoto is a senior at Mililani High School. At the age of five, she began dancing at Pas De Deux Hawaii where she started with ballet, but also danced jazz, lyrical, and ballroom. In 2017, she joined the ballet competition team under the direction of Annri Opitz-Kostick where she competed in various group and solo numbers. In summer of 2023, she joined Ballet Hawaii and since then participated in various Nutcracker productions, Ballet Hawaii’s Summer Intensives, and Ensemble seasons. Apart from participating in Ballet Hawaii’s summer intensives, she most recently got the opportunity to take part in John Cranko School’s International Contemporary Masters New York summer program. Some of her favorite pieces she has performed include “Cinderella” from Ballet Hawaii’s 2025 summer intensive and “Reminiscing” by Anna Quijano. Outside of dance, she enjoys reading and hanging out with her friends.