We had the distinct pleasure of hosting a launch event at Shriners Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, October 4 to announce our 2023 performances of The Nutcracker which will be held December 16 and 17. Following a Tea Party for hospital children and their families, Artistic Director Pamela Taylor-Tongg shared information about this year’s performances and the Angel Program which Shriners children will be able to attend. Micki Kohlburg told a brief summary of the story, and our dancers enchanted guests with excerpts from the ballet. The performance was followed by a Q & A, where the audience had an opportunity to speak with the dancers.
The 2023 Nutcracker Season Kicks Off With A Party At Shriners Children’s Hospital
Since 1980, we have celebrated the holidays with lavish presentations of Tchaikovsky’s classical ballet The Nutcracker. The current production, Choreographed by Septime Webre, brings the story to the 1858 Kingdom of Hawaii. Opening with a holiday party at historic Washington Place, our dancers journey on to the snows of MaunaKea, and a magical flower garden filled with fragrant flowers and birds.
Ballet Hawaii dancers, and students are joined by a a cast of professional dancers, including Principal dancers from New York City Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, and will be accompanied by the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Imaginative new set designs have been created for this lavish Hawaii themed production.
This year, for the first time ever, the show will be held at the Neil S. Blaisdell Arena which presents unique creative challenges for our famous set design, but also give’s students the chance to enchant even larger audiences each evening. To help support us, please consider donating or sponsoring this year’s production.
