The Nutcracker, Featuring Antoinette Wood

Returning to the Inland Empire this December by the Inland Pacific Ballet (IBP) is the classic holiday production, danced to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, The Nutcracker. Critically acclaimed IPB brings The Nutcracker to life with dazzling sets complete with falling snow, an antique original Albany Flyer One Horse Open Sleigh, a 40-foot Chinese Dragon, beautiful costumes handmade in-house at IPB’s costume department, and a cast of 80 dancers. New to this year’s production is a completely re-choreographed Snow Scene for an expanded cast of 20 and a brand new lighting design. Also new to this performance is 12-year-old Antoinette Wood from Redlands, playing the role of the Candy Cane and Orphan. Wood has been dancing since she was 2-years-old, but this will be her first time performing The Nutcracker. “What’s cool about this performance is that I get to dance with my friend, Gretta,” Wood says. “She helped me get the part.” Wood juggles dance and life in middle school, but enjoys studying math and science. She admits that she’s a “procrastinator, and it’s tough to keep up the energy.” Although juggling dance and school tends to be a struggle, Wood looks forward to bringing her greatest effort and energy into the performance, under the direction of Clinton Rothwell. Not only does Rothwell have an outstanding resume, (having been a dancer with Royal Opera Ballet, principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Holland, and National Ballet of Canada), but he's also real “biker dude,” who rides up to the ballet studio on his Harley! The Nutcracker returns to the Inland Empire with performances at Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.; Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.; Lewis Family Playhouse in Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.