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

Public Partners
City of Irvine and UC Irvine

Official Health Care Partner
UCI Health

Corporate Sponsor
Haskell & White LLP

$100,000+

Paul and Bonnie Lubock

$50, 000+

Tom and Mayumi Adams

Thomas Rogers and Sally Anderson

Worah Family Foundation

$25, 000-$49, 999

Clifford and Jennifer Cheng

Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation

The Hiland Foundation

Bill and Carolyn Klein

The Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund

Judy and Wes Whitmore

$10, 000 -$24,999

Gregory Bates and Joann Leatherby

Eugene and Carol Choi

Paul and Anne Devore

Farhang Foundation

David and Trudi Gartley

Mike Gordon

Haskell & White LLP

Harason Horowitz

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation

Terry and Judy Jones

Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus

Jerry and Whitney Mandel

Goran Matijasevic

William and Janice Parker Family Fund

William and Pat Podlich

Robert E. Romney

Richard and Cheryll Ruszat – Montessori Schools of Irvine

Mary Watson-Bruce

Greg Zaret

$5, 000 - $9, 999

Stephen and Mary Auerbach

Robert and Lillyan Cendejas

Rohit Deshpande and Anita Watumull

Gary Fabian and Deb Solon

Chuck and Janet Henze

Jack and Joy Kayajanian

Robert Kazer and Jill Richter

Ken and Chantelle Labowe - Labowe Family Foundation

Josh Martin, Emerald Real Estate Partners, and Tom Politowski

Natalie Miles

Tom Newmeyer

Andrei Olenicoff Memorial Foundation

James and Lynn Payne

Jill M. Prentice

Christopher and Lynne Ramsey

Salwa Rizkalla

Adreana Souleles

Craig and Kirsten Springer

Alexander and Sachiyo Stimpson

Andrew Vollero

Ms. Renee Walter

Brian and Beth West

$2,500 - $4, 999

Terri Beber and Terry McDonald

Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker

Terry Causey

Alice and Dennis Creighton

Albert and Anne Encinias

Arlene and Steven Fienberg

Douglas and Kathleen Forde

Greg and Sumie Haase

Michael and Charisse Lyseight

Patricia M. McIntyre Foundation Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation

Mark J. Nielsen

Marcia Novegrod

Arthur Ong and Ginger Sun

Bill and Joyce Perrone

Ron and Jan Redmond

Bob and Jo Anne Simon

Eric and Donna Stovner

Robert Zasa and Judy Amiano

$1,000 -$2,499

Beth and Michael Adler

Charlotte W. and Richard D. Alexander Charitable Foundation

Scott and Katherine Arbuckle

Diane and Dennis Baker

Brad Crosley

Gail Doe

Jeanne Egasse and Boyd Philpot

Francis and Ruby Foo

David and Judy Fukuda

Stanford Gertler

Gary Good and Jackie Charnley

Roger and Patt Grable

Mary Graham

Geeta and Sanjiv Grover

Loren Hansen and Lorraine Caukin

Karen Kewell Jacoby

Dr. Elliott Kornhauser and Mr. Joe Baker

Rachel Levin

Lutz Moeckel

Janis and Dave Murray

James Pick and Rosalyn Laudati

Diana Putz

Josh and Carolyn Roberts

Phil and Joy Ruggiero

Arkady and Ella Serebryannik

Sally Anne and Don Sheridan

Walter and Masami Stahr

Robert and Veronica Start

CarolAnn Tassios

Michele and Irwin Walot

Kurt and Ellen Youngs

$500 -$999

Mark Achong

Dana and Angelika Aswad

John W. Ballantyne

Michelle Bentcliff and Ann Litke

Peter and Kari Bretschger

Wayne and Nancy Broadhag

Robert Cassidy

Esther Cervantes and Steve Rivero

Denise B. Chilcote

Michael and Melanie Cooper

Han Dinh and Martin Le

Joan Donahue

Ann Donat

Nancy Eisenberg

Christine Fluor and Walter Scacchi

Ian and Kari Gibson

S. Glass Family

Gleicher / Chen Family Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Ben Goelman

The Gromfin Family

Marcus Hickerson

Kathleen Koch

John LaRue

John Long and Tamara Taylor

Patti Martinez

Mrs. Karen Martinez

Susan M. Mason

Duane and Kathleen Mauzey

Dr. & Mrs. John Middlebrooks

Philip and Pamela Milner

Kenneth Niedziela

Rey O'Day

Mike Peak

Bebe and Otto Reyer

Karen Rook

Jeff and Linda Schulein

Kent and Saudia Sentinella

Joe Simrell

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Sutton

Dr. Anthony Vasek

Fred and Patricia Viele

Emily Crean Vogler

Gary and Cathy Wyatt

$250 - $499

The Aber Group Inc

Fredric and Lisa Albert

Mike Baginski and Kim Ling

Mrs. Kaui Balderston

George and Linda Bauer

Bruce Beckman

Pat Berry

William and Annette Blaney

Judy Bloomingdale

Ms. Nancy Braden

Scott Brinkerhoff

Mr. Jelle Brons

Sylvia Burnett

David and Lisa Butler

Luisa Cano

Robert and Valerie Carter

Michael Casey

Eileen and Henry Cohen

Anahid Crecelius

Mike Davis

Charles Davison

Myrtle Deakins

Mary Susan Denley

Mr. David Dijkstra

Don and Debra Drysdale

Kent and Irene Dunlap

Doug Elliott

Kelly YuehChun Feng

Joanne Fernbach

Kevin and Candice Gomez

Dan and Nicole Honigman

Harason Horowitz and Mark Chapin Johnson

Melvin and Hazel Hoshiko

Korey Jorgensen

Jessica Kaltman

Arlene Kato and Mike Kurihara

Judy Kaufman

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Bruce Larson

Michael Lawler

Vicki and Richard Lee

Robert and Kathy Lopez

Edward Luedke

Capt. Kevin M. Mac Donnell

Dr. Frank and Mrs. Linda Meyskens

William D. Miller and Florence E. Miller

Daniel Morrison

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Susan O'Brien

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Jorge Perez Valdes

Brad Rawlins

Kenneth Reinhard and Julia Reinhard Lupton

Mr. and Mrs. Rivadeneyra

Dr. Stephen Rochford

Paul Schmidhauser and Cindy Hughes

Kris and Geraldine Shah

Richard and Ann Sim

Gary and Melanie Singer Charitable Fund

Dorothy J. Solinger

Tina Sommers-Bernhardt

Daniel and Jeanne Stokols

Sullivan Family

Kim Tang

Cindy Tyan

Alvin Umeda

Jeanne Villacorte

Beth Waterman

Carl and Deborah Weinert

Mark and Lou-Ann Weltman

Hemantha and Sophie Wickramasinghe

Jim and Sandra Williams

Dexter and Gisele Winzey

Kelley Yasbek

Andy and Wendy Yurcho

$100-$249

Brian and Gloria Abrams

Susan Adleman

Hoku and Kalani Aichele

Lillian Aranda

Theresa Battel

Rosanne and William Beam

Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh

Sally Bender

Stephen and Susan Billard

Chris Blank and Josie Badeaux

Mr. Paul Blank

Carol Boot-Storie

Kerry and Paul Boulian

Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer

William and Lindsay Brennan

Mr. Steven Brenneis

Dawn Burdick

Mr. & Mr. Christopher Cabrera

Peggy Campbell

Dr. Michael Cater, MD

Ms. Sarah Chamberlain

Patrick J. Chambers

Grace Chen

Jeff Corp

David Coscia and Mark Armstrong

Vivian Daniel

RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama

In Memory of Irene DeNoia

Ernest Duarte

Ron and May Duff

Peggie Fariss

Mr. Kevin Finley

Aviva and Fred Forster

Ms. Ellen Fujikawa

Eileen Garbutt

Charles Gates

Mr. John Gibbs

Manuel Godoy

Michael and Kristina Golden

Anna Gonosova

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Gayle and Phil Harp

Sheila and Hal Harrison

Jennifer Hart

Fred and Cheryl Heinecke

Edwin Henderson

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Peter Holden and Angela Howley-Holden

Holmes Family

Rita B Hopper

Dr. Dena Hulbert

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Laurie Jacobs

Jasbir Nami Kaur

Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami

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Colin and Joan Koransky

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Jennifer and Robert Langer

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Milena Marsico

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Thomas and Glynett Mcteer

Erica Morikawa

Elaine and Cameron Mummery

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Tilden and Lisa Osako

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Lauren and Richard Packard

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Thomas and Davida Parham

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Dr. Dolly Platt

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Henry and Yen Yang Wu

Susan Yee

Hoku and Mark Aichele

Kaui Balderston

Gregory Bates and Joann

Leatherby

Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh

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Paul Blank

Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer

Nancy and Wayne Broadhag

David Coscia and Mark

Armstrong

Vivian Daniel

Charles and Maureen Davison

RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama

Eduardo and Elsie Espinosa

Judith Guffey

Roger and Patt Grable

Kevin and Candice Gomez

Paul and Marilynn Gushard

Patricia Hansen

Gayle and Phil Harp

Lisa Hudson

Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami

Karen Kotake

Lorena Mague

Janis and Dave Murray

Hon. Julie A. C. Owen

Julie Patterson

Christopher and Lynne Ramsey

Brad and Susie Rawlins

Jill Sekiguchi

Traci Shirachi and Cory Chhiap

Michael and Marilyn Staffieri

Tom Slickelman

Fred and Patricia Viele

David and Renee Warren

Bruce and Susie White

Roxanne Wong

Andrew and Wendy Yurcho