Santa Monica’s Longest-Running Nutcracker starring Tiler Peck Demonstrates How Elite Ballet Training and Community Access Transform Young Lives
This past weekend saw the opening of Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s annual Nutcracker. Now in its 52nd year, the 2025 production took place at the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. The performances saw the return of not one but two New York City Ballet Principals as the stars of the show. Tiler Peck as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Roman Mejia, as her Cavalier.
Both Peck, an American virtuosa of the ballet world as well as an alumna of WSB, and Mejia a rising ballet luminary, previously starred in Westside Ballet’s 2023 and 2024 Nutcracker seasons. And as before, both brought a wealth of technical and artistic mastery to their roles, enthralling audiences with top-tier showmanship. More than just spectacle, however, Tiler Peck’s appearances, especially, continue to positively influence dance hopefuls. Also the spectators and donors who offer their financial support through ticket sales, grants and other philanthropic gifts.
“Tiler Peck’s return to Santa Monica isn’t just about star power—it’s about coming full circle. She’s performing alongside 145 young dancers, including 8-year-old Karson St. Claire from our free Dance to Dreams program and 12-year-old Spencer Collins, who just won YAGP’s top Hope Award. Watching a world-class principal dancer mentor the next generation in the same city where she trained under Yvonne Mounsey—that’s the magic of what Westside Ballet has built over 52 years.”
Tiler Peck’s career spans Broadway, Hollywood and television. She recently reached a wide audience starring in the acclaimed Amazon Prime series Étoile. Mejia was promoted to principal dancer with New York City Ballet in 2023. He has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Alexei Ratmansky, and Christopher Wheeldon. In 2019, Dance Magazine featured him as one of their ’25 To Watch.’
Also returning to 2025’s Nutcracker, for his third appearance, is Spencer Collins. Spencer recently received the Hope Award. It is the top award at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Finals, the world’s top ballet competition. Collins is the first Westside Ballet performer to win this award. He has been described by YAGP as a child prodigy.
GIVING BACK
“As we approach Giving Tuesday (December 2nd), Tiler Peck’s performances embody what giving back looks like in the arts. She’s sharing the stage with young dancers who represent everything Westside Ballet stands for—accessible excellence. We provide over $100,000 in annual scholarships, offer 1,000 Title I students free performances, and maintain a non-audition policy. Tiler returning to inspire these kids? That’s the greatest gift an artist can give.”
Ranging from ages eight to 18, many of the pre-professional dancers appearing in this Nutcracker are set to follow previous generations of artists who found inspiration and developed long-lasting careers. This, thanks to Westside Ballet championing their dreams. In recent years, Westside has launched several promising young dancers towards these aspirations by helping secure their placement in internationally acclaimed training programs.
Examples include:
Dylan Weinstein to the American Ballet Theater (ABT) Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City and now at the Royal Ballet School in London. Evan Hull as well at the Royal Ballet School in London. Sawyer Jordon to San Francisco Ballet School, where he now is a trainee. Recently Willa Cross and Gabriella Calderon to the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. And, Gianna Zingone to the Grainger Academy of the Joffrey Ballet’s Conservatory program. Gabriella is dancing in her last Nutcracker as a member of Westside Ballet, in her dream role as the Dew Drop Fairy in this year’s production. She is alternating with several other advanced preprofessional dancers.
A few of these performers have been given the opportunity to pursue their talents due to Dance to Dreams, a scholarship program for individuals from underserved communities aged between five to 12. The program was founded in 2022 by WSB associate executive director, Adrian Blake Mitchell. Thanks to Dance to Dreams, performers such as eight-year-old Karson St. Claire will perform alongside seasoned professionals for this year’s Nutcracker. Several industry leaders from renowned dance organizations have already noted Karson’s talent. This Nutcracker will be the first time that the young performer will demonstrate her abilities to a large audience.
BUY A TICKET. FUND A DREAM AND A CAREER.
The 2025 Nutcracker retains iconic moments that generations have come to love. The growing Christmas tree, the fierce battle between mice and toy soldiers, and the spellbinding Waltz of the Flowers. With stunning costumes and newly enhanced backdrops, Westside Ballet’s Nutcracker remains a visual feast blending the familiar and the innovative.
Westside Ballet will perform an abbreviated version of the ballet—the Nutcracker Suite—in a private matinee presentation for approximately 1,000 elementary grade students in the Santa Monica-Malibu and the Los Angeles Unified School districts on Wednesday, December 4 for two matinee showcases. These educational performances introduce young students to classical ballet, often for the first time.
Westside Ballet will also open its doors for a complimentary performance to local veterans and members of many local charities and organizations on Thursday, December 5 at 7pm. This continues the organization’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all members of the community.
Additionally
The Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra will provide live music to each Broad performance. Like the dancers, the orchestra’s musicians are a combination of seasoned professionals and those embarking in early stage careers. Based on past alumni, this will see them make outstanding contributions to a number of creative industries. This live orchestral accompaniment elevates the production to world-class status. It does this by creating an immersive theatrical experience rarely found outside of major metropolitan opera houses.
This year’s production, which is Southern California’s longest-running Nutcracker, blends the nostalgia of tradition with fresh artistic elements. It features exquisite revamped set designs and world-class performances, breathing new life into the beloved classic. Tickets for all nine performances are $66.50, and tickets for the combined performance and Nutcracker Tea are $196.50. Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to purchase while they are still available!
Link to tickets: westsideballet.com/NutTix or by calling (800) 595-4849.
For more information, please visit westsideballet.com/nutcracker.
YOUR INVITATION TO DANCE
Ahead of GIVING TUESDAY you are invited to support the Westside School of Ballet through their Patron Program which funds its programs and operations including scholarships and community outreach.
About Westside Ballet of Santa Monica
Westside Ballet of Santa Monica is one of the nation’s premier pre-professional ballet training companies. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to give promising young dancers the performance opportunities so important to their development. WSB was created by Yvonne Mounsey (New York City Ballet) and Rosemary Valaire (Royal Ballet) in 1973. Westside Alumna Martine Harley (Houston Ballet) took over as Artistic Director in 2013. Based in Santa Monica, California, the company comprises approximately 145 dancers, ages 8 to 20—the most ever in a single production.
Five decades and counting…
Many professional dancers have made their stage debuts in Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s Nutcracker over the past five decades. Dancers include Monique Meunier (NYCB, ABT). Anna Liceica (ABT). Joy Womack (Bolshoi Ballet, Kremlin Ballet Theater). Martine Harley (Houston Ballet). Melissa Barak (NYCB, Los Angeles Ballet, Barak Ballet). Tiler Peck (NYCB). And Andrew Veyette (NYCB). Recent alumni include: Samuel Melnikov (NYCB). Adrian Blake Mitchell (Mikhailovsky Theatre). Shelby Tzung (National Ballet of Canada). Lucia Connolly (Joffrey Ballet). Molly Novak (Semperoper Ballett, Boston Ballet). Severina Wong (Ballet West). Giorgia Martelloni-Zabriskie (Dance Theater of Harlem). Sarah Hurty (Ballet Idaho). Leslie Parada (City Ballet of San Diego). And Lyrica Brielle Blankfein Woodruff (Broadway’s Anastasia).
The company’s sister entity,
Westside School of Ballet, distinguishes itself as a non-audition academy where all are welcome to study ballet and train to the most refined pre-professional level. Nearly all artistic staff are products of the school, bringing a consistent approach to classical ballet training. Mounsey and Valaire opened the school in 1967, six years before founding the performance company. Westside School of Ballet launched a trainee program for advanced students in partnership with the Los Angeles Ballet in late Summer 2023. The program, led by Adrian Blake Mitchell and Westside alumna Melissa Barak—now Artistic Director for LA Ballet—combines intensive training with company classes and rehearsals. Scholarships are available and depend on a range of factors regarding potentially eligible individuals
The Nutcracker production is made possible in part by grants from the City of Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, and the State of California—with past grants from the Rotary Club and a LA County COVID-19 Arts Relief Fund—and from sponsorships from local Santa Monica individuals, businesses, and organizations such as Santa Monica College Public Policy Institute, The Huntley Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Urth Caffe, Morley Builders, LA Philanthropic Committee for the Arts, and more.
Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia in Westside Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER. Photo courtesy of Westside Ballet. Photo credit: Sarah Madison Photography.
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