Festival Ballet Theatre
and
Artistic Director, Salwa Rizkalla

Present

Dec. 9 | 1pm, 6pm
Dec. 10 | 1pm
Dec. 16 | 1pm, 6pm
Dec. 17 | 1pm, 6pm
Dec. 21 | 6pm
Dec. 22 | 1pm, 6pm
Dec. 23 | 1pm, 6pm
Dec. 24 | 11am

There will be a 20-minute intermission.

Choreography & Direction
Salwa Rizkalla

Music
Peter I. Tchaikovsky

Scenery & Original Costume Design
Simon Pastukh & Galina Solovyeva

Lighting Design & Production Supervisor
Natori Cummings

Artistic Assistant
Elizabeth Farmen

Rehearsal Faculty
Cassidy Doan
Elizabeth Farmen
Marci Goedl
Jade Hendricks
Camilla Kellogg
Anjoulie Kempton
Hanna Przyludzka-Karacic
Salwa Rizkalla
Rachel Scott
Emily Villa

Additional Costume
Design & Construction
Donna Dickens
Cyndee Ely
Cliff Faulkner
Heather Lerma
Kaye Michel
Jack Sykes
Barbara Vieuretta

Costume Coordinator
Willa Bouwens-Killeen

Social Media
Sara Snow 
Megan Webber

Graphic Designer
Nicole Reineman

Production Coordinator
Chris Schmidt Varga

Company Photographer
Dave Friedman
Skye Schmidt
Rachel Scott

Casting subject to change.

The taking of photographs or use of recording devices is strictly prohibited.

WELCOME TO FESTIVAL BALLET THEATRE’S 2023 PRODUCTION OF THE NUTCRACKER.

In a fast-paced, ever-changing world it’s nice to know there are beautiful holiday traditions like the Nutcracker. Today, our 35th production of the Nutcracker is just as magical as it was when we first performed it years ago. And it is our great honor to share our dazzling rendition of this classic ballet with you, here at Irvine Barclay Theatre for our 16th year, decked out in full seasonal splendor.

With 13 stage performances and two outreach shows scheduled, our Festival Ballet Theatre Nutcracker has been putting audiences all over Orange County into the holiday spirit. The elegant costumes, lush sets and timeless music of Tchaikovsky perfectly complement our talented cast of dancers, which includes our professional company dancers, students from across Orange and Los Angeles Counties, and of course, our renowned guest artists.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our distinguished guest artists who will be dancing the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. We are honored each year that professional dancers from around the world choose to spend these precious weekends performing the Nutcracker with our company and Southland Ballet Academy dancers.

We hope that you and your loved ones will enjoy this performance immensely, take time to visit our splendid Nutcracker boutique, and that you will treasure the memories of this Nutcracker performance for years to come!

In April 2024, we are staging the comedic classical ballet “Coppelia.” And our season culminates in August with our 16th Annual Gala of the Stars, our annual gathering of international stars from some of the world’s most prestigious dance companies, performing alongside FBT’s own accomplished resident dancers.

Festival Ballet Theatre was founded as a non-profit organization in 1988 and has grown to become Orange County’s premier ballet company. We are grateful to be celebrating another new season with you, our cherished patrons, friends and family members. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Gratefully,

Salwa Rizkalla
Founder and Artistic Director
Festival Ballet Theatre

Festival Ballet Theatre (FBT) is Orange County’s premier, accomplished professional ballet company. Our mission is to enrich Orange County’s artistic and economic vitality, to inspire love and appreciation for dance, and to invigorate ballet by:

• Presenting a season of exhilarating classical and contemporary performances
• Providing a nurturing environment for dancers and choreographers
• Offering stimulating educational outreach programs

With reverence for classic masterpieces and a focus on developing future tours de force, Festival Ballet Theatre is committed to presenting the best of dance, enriching lives, and developing a new generation of audiences and artists.

Festival Ballet Theatre is a well-established non-profit arts organization founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla. Boasting a roster of impressive, up-and-coming Southern California talent, the company’s productions spotlight internationally acclaimed guest artists from prestigious companies.

Aspiring to heights of artistic excellence, FBT simultaneously attracts the best in professional dance to its home base while sending its own dancers out as artistic ambassadors to the nation. Arts Orange County named Festival Ballet Theatre Outstanding Arts Organization of the Year in 2001 and recognized Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award in 2014. For more information on Festival Ballet Theatre, visit www.festivalballet.org

Southland Ballet Academy (SBA) is the official school of Festival Ballet Theatre. Founded in 1983, SBA cultivates, trains, and inspires an appreciation for classical ballet from beginner to professional dancer. Since opening its doors as a ballet studio, SBA and Director Salwa Rizkalla have secured a national and international reputation and have played a prominent role in grooming world-class dancers.

Southland Ballet Academy has grown from a modest one-room facility to eight state-of-the-art studios in two Orange County locations — Fountain Valley and Irvine. Southland Ballet Academy’s International Summer Intensive program is a favorite destination for dancers who enjoy classes taught by world-renowned artistic directors, ballet masters and choreographers. The Intensive culminates in the Inspired Young Dancer Performance that gives the young dancers an opportunity to refine their performance abilities on stage.

Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla has contributed to the Orange County community for more than 30 years by presenting excellence in dance performance through Festival Ballet Theatre and providing top-tier classical ballet training at Southland Ballet Academy.

During her professional dancing career, Ms. Rizkalla graced the stage in leading roles in well-known classical ballets as well as contemporary pieces. She had the privilege of working under the direction of world-renowned choreographers Leonid Lavrovsky and Serge Lifar. As a young dancer, Ms. Rizkalla trained in the Russian Vaganova method and studied with Russian ballet masters. As the culmination of her training, Ms. Rizkalla completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in ballet pedagogy. She established Southland Ballet Academy in 1983 and debuted Festival Ballet Theatre in 1988. In addition to teaching and directing, Ms. Rizkalla was a faculty member at several area institutions.

Many arts organizations have recognized her service. The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators and Orange County Performing Arts Center jointly recognized her with the Orange County Arts Educator of the Year Award for Secondary Dance (2003); Youth America Grand Prix awarded Ms. Rizkalla Outstanding Teacher accolades since its inception; and Arts Orange County recognized Ms. Rizkalla with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award (2014). Ms. Rizkalla was named one of OC’s 100 Most Influential People in 2017 by the Orange County Register.

Ms. Rizkalla has been honored to impact the lives of hundreds of students and their families through her teaching. She is proud to be a dedicated educator, an energetic promoter of the arts, and an active participant in the cultural life of her community.

Festival Ballet Theatre is proud to present the members of FBT Trainees, a junior company of student dancers with outstanding potential. Through FBT Trainees, Festival Ballet Theatre secures a talented base of dancers, offers performance opportunities “at home” and nurtures the stars of the future to a professional career in dance.

Back Line (left to right): Julia Prevost, Daria Podolsky, Keira Kuennemann, Zeraphine Jaeckel, Bailey Stenstrom, Catherine Gibson, Brielle Aucoin, Bella Dinglasan, Sydney Madolora, Chloe Im; Front Line (left to right): Towako Wunsch, Madison Chen, Yuma Kainuma, Halle Chan, Mia Frederick, Amy Guo, Charlotte Bengfort, Nia Villania, Natalie Ho; Not Pictured: Leon Sai

Festival Ballet Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations for their contributions to our programs. 

Director’s Circle
$10,000+
Anonymous
The Bryant Family
James Carter
Salwa Rizkalla

Underwriter
$5,000-$9,999
Anonymous
Bobbi Cox
Robert Farnsworth, Sonnettech

Choreographer
$2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous
Dione Knowles
Lydia Ringwald

Principal
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous
Willa Bouwens-Killeen
Cat & Phil Hunter
Carol & Marc MacDonald
Seta & Simon Tchekmedyian
Hans & Sayoko Wunsch
Lisa Yamashita

Soloist
$500 - $999
Anonymous
Karen & Thomas Hersh
Tracie Rotter
Teri & Chris Schmidt
Kim Tang & Danh Kuennemann

Artist
$250 - $499
Anonymous
Estelle Holder
Tu-Uyen Nguyen
Erin & Douglas Schneider

Apprentice
$100 - $249
Anonymous
Lisa & Joseph Dinglasan
Lisa & Young Oh

For information or to join our list of donors, please visit FestivalBallet.org or call 714.962.5440

Festival Ballet Theatre thanks all of the parents and volunteers who are integral to the success of this presentation of The Nutcracker. We appreciate all the time and energy you have put into fundraising, costumes, donations, marketing and development. Your efforts are truly priceless in allowing Festival Ballet Theatre to provide this holiday tradition.

Salwa Rizkalla: President
Lisa Yamashita: Vice President
Willa Bouwens-Killeen: Treasurer
Cathleen Hunter: Secretary
Ghada Anis: Member

Eve Aucoin: Pre-Show Tea Co-Chair
Luke Aucoin: Pre-Show Tea Co-Chair
Kristin Bengfort: Events & Fundraising Chair
Carol Chen: Costume Co-Chair
Manami Frederick: Costume Co-Chair
Jade Hendricks: Alumni Chair
Jan Kempton: Boutique Chair
Haoie Luc: Digital Marketing Chair
Sara Snow: Public Relations Chair
Megan Webber: Social Media Chair
Sayoko Wunsch: Arts & Crafts Chair