Westlake School for the Performing Arts to Present 23rd Annual Production of
The Nutcracker Virtually from December 24th – January 1st
The Nutcracker Ballet Streamed on YouTube.con/wspagallery
DALY CITY, Calif. – The Westlake School for the Performing Arts (WSPA) in Daly City announced today it will stream its rendition of the holiday classic The Nutcracker. From December 24th through January 1st, WSPA will present its 23rd annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet onYouTube.com/wspagallery. WSPA’s performance features choreography by the school’s artistic director Malu Rivera-Peoples and several world-renowned WSPA-trained dancers.
In a typical year, WSPA’s Nutcracker production takes place at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and features over 150 performers from the school. This year, WSPA is adjusting the celebration and will stream a pre-recorded performance that followed all COVID-19 safety protocols.
“Our Nutcracker production has been a long-standing holiday tradition in our community and has introduced a lot of people to the theater,” said Rivera-Peoples. “Many of my students were inspired to dance by The Nutcracker Ballet. I have seen parents overcome with emotion, moved by our endearing production, and beaming with pride for their young dancers. These are the reasons why we proudly continue The Nutcracker performance and support the community year after year.”
This year’s Nutcracker production includes several never-before-seen features: a real-life family plays the Stahlbaum’s, two home-trained young male dancers’ debuts in the roles of Snow King and Cavalier, and WSPA’s very own director, Malu Rivera-Peoples, comes out of dance retirement to perform the role of Mother Ginger. She brings the character to life on screen, using her years of professional performance experience with Ballet Philippines to present a fresh and refined take on the role.
For the first time ever, a real-life family – the Manalo-Angeles family from South San Francisco – plays the part of the Stahlbaum’s, while their close family friend, Justus Vierra, plays the role of Uncle Drosselmeyer. To capture authentic, loving Stahlbaum family moments before their guests arrive for the party, it was necessary to cast a real-life family whose members are a part of the same quarantine bubble. The affectionate interactions you see on screen between Justus, Jessica, Evan, Elle, and Jude — our youngest Clara and Fritz in WSPA history — along with Kayla, Jessica’s niece, and are a genuine reflection of their everyday interactions as a family off screen. Performing the roles of Cavalier and Snow King for the first time are Ethan Rualo and Parker Rozzano-Keefe. Due to the pandemic, guest artists Rudolph Capongcol and Eugene Obille were unable to travel from the Philippines as they do every year to perform in WSPA’s Nutcracker.
Be sure to register for the event here: https://bit.ly/EventbriteWSPA
A commemorative DVD with extra bonus features will be available for purchase, to benefit Artists in Motion Bay Area (AIMBA), a nonprofit organization formed to support performance opportunities for the students at WSPA at http://www.aimbayarea.org
For event details please go to http://www.wspadance.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/wspadalycity/) and Instagram (@wspadalycity) #wspanutcracker2020
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For media information, contact:
Nikiya R. Peoples
wspasocialmedia@gmail.com
(650) 757-1244
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ABOUT WESTLAKE SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (WSPA)
WSPA was founded in the summer of 1991 by Malu Rivera-Peoples and Karen Dycaico. Its programs include pre-professional training in classical ballet, pointe, character, and variation classes. It also offers ethnic dance classes in Russian and Polynesian traditions and a department of Broadway musical theater classes. Tap, jazz, and hip hop are also offered to all levels of ability. WSPA is extremely proud of its students and programs. Fully understanding that not all will pursue a career in the performing arts, WSPA’s legacy of hard work, discipline, and putting your best foot forward will always stay with them for a lifetime. These are the factors that make WSPA a unique and valuable addition to the community at large.
ABOUT ARTISTS IN MOTION BAY AREA (AIMBA):
Artists in Motion Bay Area is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization formed to promote financial support for the students of the Performance Program at WSPA. Its mission is to fund performing opportunities for the students of the Performance Program, foster appreciation for the arts by bringing free performances to the community, establish a dedicated audience that will continue to attend and support the performances and provide scholarships for talented students needing financial assistance.
PALOMA PRESS 