Irvine Barclay Theatre

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

Graphic Designer
Marianne Hales
Nicole Reineman

Production Coordinator
Chris Schmidt

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

WELCOME TO FESTIVAL BALLET THEATRE’S 2022 PRODUCTION OF THE NUTCRACKER.

In a fast-paced, ever-changing world, it’s nice to know that there are beautiful traditions you can count on like The Nutcracker. Our 34^th production of The Nutcracker is just as magical as when we first performed it, and it is our honor to share our rendition of this classic ballet with all of you right here at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

With 13 full-length performances and two outreach shows scheduled, our Festival Ballet Theatre Nutcracker is sure to put the audience in the holiday spirit. The elegant costumes, lush sets and the timeless music of Tchaikovsky perfectly complement our talented cast of dancers, including our professional company dancers, students from across Orange and Los Angeles counties, and of course, our renowned guest artists.

We hope that you and your loved ones will treasure the memories of this Nutcracker performance for years to come!

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, including: Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez (December 10 and 11), Sasha De Sola and Wei Wang (December 17), Wona Park and Wei Wang (December 18), and Lauren Lovette and Constantine Allen (December 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24).

In March 2023, we are staging the beloved classical ballet Swan Lake. The season culminates in August with our 15th Annual Gala of the Stars, our annual gathering of international dancers from some of the world’s most prestigious dance companies, who perform 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.

Salwa Rizkalla
Founder and Artistic Director
Festival Ballet Theatre

About 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

About Southland Ballet Academy

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.

About the Artistic Director - Salwa Rizkalla

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.

Guest Artists

Constantine Allen (Dec. 20-24)

Guest Artist

Sasha De Sola (Dec. 17)

Guest Artist

Dylan Gutierrez (Dec. 10 & 11)

Guest Artist

Lauren Lovette (Dec. 20 - 24)

Guest Artist

Jeraldine Mendoza (Dec. 10 & 11)

Guest Artist

Wona Park (Dec.18)

Guest Artist

Wei Wang (Dec. 17 and 18)

Nutcracker Cast

Professional Division Trainees

2022-2023 FBT Junior Company

Back Line (left to right): Brielle Aucoin, Zeraphine Jaeckel, Keira Kuennemann, Olivia Senter, Jocelyn Thomas

Middle Line (left to right): Bella Dinglasan, Michelle Lu, Charlotte Bengfort, Leon Sai, Natalie Ho, Nia Villania, Sheridan Stone

Front Line (left to right): Brynn Oh, Chloe Im, Halle Chan, Aurora Kellogg

Not Pictured: Madison Chen, Amelie Hoang, Sophia Ly, Adella Mehringer, Hailey Van

2022-2023 FBT Trainees

Festival Ballet Theatre is proud to present the members of FBT Trainees, a junior company of student dancers with outstanding potential. Festival Ballet Theatre is proud to present the members of FBT Trainees, the professional division students of Southland Ballet Academy 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): Amanda Luyks, Sydney Madolora, Catherine Gibson, Bailey Stenstrom, Cierra Roberts, Hunter Curry

Middle Line (left to right): Aimee Cho, Mia Frederick, Lee Zucker-Murray, Aisha Vaughan, Sami Santos

Front Line (left to right): Adiya Marcus, Rachel Lee, Emma Chen, Towako Wunsch, Cassidy Nguyen, Natalie Burkley

Not Pictured: Elise Cho, Yuma Kainuma, Sophia Koo, Yaya Liu

A Special Thanks to Our Donors

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

Director’s Circle
$10,000+
Anonymous
Robert Farnsworth -
Sonnettech
Salwa & Sabri Rizkalla

Underwriter
$5,000-$9,999
Anonymous
James Carter

Choreographer
$2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous
Nordoff Bengfort
Lydia Ringwald
Jean Wu

Principal
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous
David & Berit Ling

Soloist
$500 - $999
Anonymous
Diana Casey
Karen & Thomas Hersh
Cathleen & Phil Hunter
Teri & Chris Schmidt

Artist
$250 - $499
Anonymous
Eve & Luke Aucoin
Miriam & Mark Ellersiek
Estelle & Steve Holder
Wendy & Dennis Hwang
Tabea Jaeckel
The Matsuzaki Family
Tu-Uyen Nguyen
Tracie Rotter
Sara & Ryan Snow
Dona Stenstrom
Angela Tai

Apprentice
$100 - $249
Anonymous
Lynda Tsui

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

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

A special thanks to our Nutcracker volunteers

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.

Festival Ballet Theatre Board of Directors

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

Festival Ballet Theatre Guild Chairs

Eve Aucoin: Pre-Show Tea Co-Chair
Luke Aucoin: Pre-Show Tea Co-Chair
Kristin Bengfort: Events & Fundraising Chair
Carol Chen: Costume Co-Chair
Jade Hendricks: Alumni Chair
Jan Kempton: Boutique Chair
Haoie Luc: Digital Marketing Chair
Erin Schneider: Public Relations Chair
Megan Webber: Social Media Chair
Aya Zucker-Murray: Costume Co-Chair