Of course, not everything was bad. There were bright spots in the year of happiness, accomplishment, and hope. Lest we forget what last year held for us, here’s a brief breakdown of 2011 by month:

January

• The year got off to a rough start as a madman went on a shooting spree in Arizona, killing a federal judge and wounding Representative Gabrielle Giffords with a near-fatal gunshot. The bright spot? They got the man, and Representative Giffords recovered and returned to the chamber just time time to cast her vote on the 2011 Debt Ceiling Crisis.
• Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the White House in a major diplomatic appearance. He acknowledged that there was much to be done to improve the lot of the Chinese people.

February

• The second month of the year saw a culmination of a revolt that began in January in Egypt. The Middle East was rocked as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was forced to resign on February 11. The stability of the Middle East would become further impugned as “Arab Spring” gathered momentum and continued to spread.
• On a slightly more amusing (albeit still disturbing) note, the American public got to enjoy the meltdown of Charlie Sheen as he began to deliver his somewhat crazed and highly incomprehensible raves. We look on as the highest paid actor in television history methodically self-destructs.
• In the arts world, Spiderman the Musical opens on Broadway, having cost approximately $75 million to produce. It also experience major setbacks as actors and audience members are injured from a faulty flying system, and Spiderman breaks his neck.
• On a happy note, we were all able to enjoy an action-packed Superbowl as the Steelers and the Packers met for some head-to-head passing, tackling, and punting! The Packers won 31-25.

March

• The month began with the Space Shuttle Discovery landing for the last time.
• Two days later, on March 11, Japan is rocked by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, which results in a tsunami hitting the northeast coast. 20,000 people died, property damage was incalculable, and the Fukushima nuclear facility was massively damaged – the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.
• The race for the 2012 election also began when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced his intention to seek the Republican presidential nomination.
• Oh yeah, and the football that brought us a measure of joy in February took a turn for the worse in March as the NFL lockout began and contract negotiations broke down.

April

• April was a fairly bright month, as the travesties plaguing the year thus far took a break. The month began with the federal government finally reaching a budget agreement, thus averting an imminent, and possibly catastrophic, government shutdown.
• The month ended with the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on April 29. The extravagant affair was televised across the world, providing a much needed escape for over 2,000,000,000 viewers!

May

• Another relatively good month! May began with the capture and death of global terrorist Osama bin Laden. U.S. elite forces stormed his Pakistani compound and took the terrorist’s life. Bin Laden was later buried at sea.
• We all waited with baited breath on May 21 for Harold Camping’s prophesy of Rapture to be fulfilled – it wasn’t.
• The month ended with a fond farewell and the end of a legacy as Oprah Winfrey broadcasts her final show.
• Of course, we did gloss over the beginning of more political scandals – such as Congressman Weiner’s inappropriate tweeting.

June

• This month began in the political arena with Mitt Romney announcing his bid for Republican candidacy and Congressman Weiner finally admitting that he did indeed send illicit tweets. (The congressman then later resigned.)
• President Obama announced that he would be bringing home 33,000 troups from Afghanistan by next summer.
• New York became the largest state to decide to mind its own business and  legalize same-sex marriage.

July

• Not such a pleasant month with more political scandal as six weeks after announcing his illegitimate child, Governor Schwarzenegger found himself staring down the barrel of divorce.
• In a shocking twist, Casey Anthony was found not-guilty on counts of murder, manslaughter, and child abuse of her 2-year old daughter, Caylee.
• In a momentous occasion for Unites States space flight, the Space Shuttle Atlantis made its final landing, officially ending NASA’s shuttle program. The U.S. is now dependant on foreign rockets to get our astronauts into space.
• On the bright side, the NFL lockout ended as the management and the players came to an agreement. Football would have a season!

August

• The federal government continued to struggle to reach an agreement on the debt ceiling crisis and avoid a national fiscal catastrophe. They did eventually hammer out an agreement, and continued spending insane amounts of money that the country did not have, while the issue of spending cuts went into committee for solving at a later date.
• Of course, the budget decisions came too late, and Standard and Poor downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time since assigning the nation’s AAA rating in 1917.
• A 5.8 magnitude earthquake stuck the U.S. capital.
• Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is overthrown in the wake of the continued Arab Spring.

September

• On a somber, yet oddly uplifting note, the month began as we honored the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with the opening of a memorial plaza at ground zero.
• Occupy Wall Street began leading to a nationwide Occupy protest by citizens who were fed up with the status quo. Naming themselves the “99%,” occupiers protested perceived socio-economic injustices.
• In a majorly progressive step, “don’t ask, don’t tell” was finally repealed, allowing gay and lesbian service members to openly serve their county with pride.
• On the ongoing budgetary carousel, once again a last-minute congressional action approved a spending deal and avoided government shut-down.

October

• The world of innovation and technology took a blow as Apple’s co-founder and president, Steve Jobs, passed away.
• Northeastern United States was hit by a massive snow storm with record snow falls – essentially ruining Halloween.
• Of course, we all were able to chuckle just a bit at celebrity antics as, just three months after her $10 million wedding, Kim Kardashian called it quits on her marriage. So much for true love in the limelight.
• The month ended with us all feeling a little bit more cramped as the United Nations announced that the world population has surpassed 7 billion!

November

• Just when we could all use an extra laugh in our lives, loveable curmudgeon and longtime 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney passed away at 92.
• In the never ending saga of Michael Jackson’s death, the King of Pop’s doctor was finally convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
• Republican Presidential hopeful, Herman Cain, was accused of sexual harassment in yet another of the endless line of political scandals.
• The committee that was supposed to find budget cuts, following the raising of the debt ceiling in August, failed. Instead, budget cuts set in place under an earlier agreement will take place in 2013.
• On a lighter note, Egypt experienced a peaceful election in the first parliamentary election since Mubarak’s ousting in February.

December

In the last month of a decidedly drear year, things began to look up as the U.S. Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate fell to 8.6% in November – the lowest since March, 2006.

In the science world, physicists announced that they were close to finally locating the Higgs boson particle – a fundamental piece in understanding how the universe works and a step toward discovering a Unified Theory of Physics.

Kim Jong Il, North Korean dictator, died and left his son in charge. Only time will tell what this means for the world.

Americans come frighteningly close to a hike in the payroll tax, which would have meant a $1,500 increase in taxes for the average American. Congress pulled through and implemented a temporary tax-cut.

On a hugely bright note, the year closed with the official ending of the war in Iraq, and a mass exodus of U.S. troupes heading home!

It was a hard year, you cannot deny that. Yet even during the hard times we can find bits and pieces of light. Momentous occasions such as a Royal Wedding or the final flight of the space shuttle, or frivolous occasions like the Super Bowl or Oprah’s final show are always around to help lighten the mood.

And when it seems like times are tough, remember that this too shall pass and someday you will be able to look back and tell your children or your grandchildren that, “I was there when . . .”

Never forget that when life is hard, you always have the arts to count on as a means of relaxation, escape, and fantasy. In a cities like San Diego, New York, and San Francisco, you can’t walk down the street without the arts hitting you in the face. And while television is an easy out, there is no substitution for live theater. The thrill of dressing up, experiencing emotional catharsis with hundreds of other people, live music, live dance . . . there is no substitution.

In 2011 California Ballet Company presented you with A Touch of the Classics – which brought you tastes of Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, and Sleeping Beauty. We also gave you Alice in Wonderland for a fun, colorful, and nonsensical romp. And, of course, we offered The Nutcracker, which is the perfect way to lighten up the end of an otherwise dreary year.

Classical ballet is often times misconstrued as stodgy or boring, but it has a wide capacity for levity! And there is nothing as entrancing as watching a fairy or a princess float across the floor, lighter than air. But whether or not you choose ballet as your escape, make sure that when times get tough and you’re feeling down, you make your way to the theater. It’s a guaranteed upper and a quick fix for malaise.

Now that 2012 is on the way, we will continue to offer you chances to escape the troubles and tribulations of the real world by going to the theater! Next up on the small stage is our annual Choreographer’s Concert, time and location to be announced.

And in May, we are excited to present Cinderella at the San Diego  Civic Theatre!

Tickets will be on sale soon. For information contact the California Ballet Ticketing Office.

By Phone: 858-560-6741

Or online at: www.californiaballet.org/season/cinderella

Have a happy and prosperous 2012!

Since we’re opening this weekend, and we hope that many of you will be joining us at the San Diego Civic Theatre, we thought it would be fun to share with you some fun facts about California Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker.

Enjoy!

Fun Facts About The Nutcracker

Saturday, Dec. 17th, we are celebrating our 440th performance of The Nutcracker.

Our Company dancers go through 100 pairs of pointe shoes during Nutcracker rehearsals & performances.

It takes 3 women to  do the Clara quick change from dress to nightgown.

Over 700 lbs of dry ice is used during Act 1′s Snow Scene.

There are 4500 Sequins on the Sugar Plum Tutu.

8 Bon Bons squeeze under Mother Ginger’s skirt. The skirt has a circumference over 25 feet.

 Joining us on Friday Night?

    See if you can spot the roaming Rudolph in every scene. This little guy has been appearing on closing nights since 1997!

Are you worried about getting the perfect seats? Our ticketing staff always gives our patrons the very best seats, but are limited to availability.

So, we’re going to let you in on a little secret: our Thursday, December 22 matinee show is our emptiest performance at this point. So, if you want to be assured of getting the perfect seats, buy your tickets for the December 22 matinee at 2:30pm!

Happy Holidays from all of us at California  Ballet!

Now stop a moment and think about The Nutcracker. Who is the star of the show?

What’s your answer? Unless you’re a regular ballet-goer, or a dancer yourself, you probably answered, “The Nutcracker Prince and Clara, of course!”

But, did you know that the real star of The Nutcracker is the Sugar Plum Fairy?

That’s right, the Sugar Plum Fairy is always danced by the ballet company’s best ballerinas. She’s the star of the show, the big cheese, and that’s why her dance number, the Grande Pas de Deux, is the last number before the finale. We save the best for last!

We thought it would be fun, with Nutcracker right around the corner, to take a look at California Ballet’s top dancers and see who’s dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy this year.

And if you’re real good, and you read the whole article, you’ll find a recipe to make real sugar plums at home! Have you ever tasted one? Do you even know what one looks like? Well, read on and you can become your own Sugar Plum Fairy!

 Chie Kudo – Ballerina

At the top of our lineup for Sugar Plum Fairy is California Ballet’s newly appointed Principal Ballerina, Chie Kudo. Miss Kudo joined the company as a soloist in 2006, and has climbed the ballet ladder to be our currently highest ranking dancer in the company. She received her training in Japan, and has won numerous ballet competitions. Miss Kudo is currently completing her training as a professional pilates trainer, and is always happy to take on new students. If you live in the San Diego area, email partners@californiaballet.org for more information on pilates training with Miss Kudo.

Bernadette Torres – Principal

Also standing in the spotlight as a Sugar Plum Fairy is California Ballet Principal Dancer Bernadette Torres. Miss Torres is a native San Diegan who began her training at the Ballet Conservatory in Chula Vista. She joined California Ballet last season as a Soloist and was promoted to Principal Dancer this year. Miss Torres spent the previous two summers in Italy with CBC Principal Dancer Carlo Di Dio, where the dance couple received more than one award. This is Miss Torres’s first year dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy with California Ballet Company.

Rebecca Correia – Soloist

Last, but most certainly not least, Soloist Rebecca Correia will be taking center stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy this year. Miss Correia is a California Ballet School graduate, and received her training with the company’s affiliated school. She joined the corps de ballet in 2006, spent the 2007-2008 season training with the Boston Ballet, and returned to California Ballet in 2008 where she was promoted to soloist in 2010. A San Diego native, Miss Correia’s dynamic stage presence continually delights local audiences, most recently as Alice in Charles Bennett’s Alice in Wonderland this past October. This is Miss Correia’s first year dancing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy with California Ballet Company.

As you can see, the ladies dancing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy are an eclectic collection of nationalities, backgrounds, and training. What they all three have in common is their profound technical prowess and the ability to not just dance on the stage, but own it.

Don’t miss your chance to see these amazing dancers in action. California Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs ten performances at the San Diego Civic Theatre with the San Diego Symphony December 17- 23.

Ticket Prices range from $25-$80 with a 25% children’s discount in most sections. For more tickets or more information call 858-560-6741 or CLICK HERE!!!

Now, as promised, let’s make some sugar plums! Now, many people think of the fruit when they hear the words sugar plum. There is a fruit with that name – little purple plums with a pale yellow flesh that are very sweet. However, the second act of the ballet takes place in the Kingdom of the Sweets. We see bon bons, Spanish Chocolates, Marzipan Flutes, ribbon candy, the list goes on and on.

That being the case, the Sugar Plum Fairy is named after a confection, not a fruit. Sugar plums are little balls of honey, nuts, and spices that just scream of the holiday season. They are admittedly not as pretty as their ballerina counterpart. They are, however, incredibly tasty!

Here’s the recipe to make the traditional Sugar Plum confection:

Sugar Plums
from Saveur Magazine

2 cups whole almonds
1/4 cup honey
2 tsp grated orange zest
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
1 cup pitted dates, finely chopped
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 400F. Arrange almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast in oven for ten minutes. Set aside to cool and then finely chop. Meanwhile, combine honey, orange zest, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Mix almonds, apricots, dates and spice mix in a large bowl. Mix well. Pinch off rounded teaspoon-sized pieces and roll into balls. Dust the sugar plums with powdered sugar and refrigerate in single layers between sheets of wax paper in airtight containers for up to one month.

Have fun making them, it’s actually very simple and quick, and these will be a huge hit at your next holiday party. Kids, remember to only cook and bake when accompanied by a responsible adult. Responsible adults, remember to act like a kid when enjoying these delectable treats!

Have a great holiday season, be sure to get your Nutcracker tickets soon, and we’ll see you at the ballet!

For those with allergies, please note that the above recipe contains nuts, various spices, citrus, and honey. Please be aware of your allergies before enjoying.

In San Diego arts news, the San Diego arts community gathered last Monday, October 17, 2011, at the Garfield Theatre, Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. The topic for the gathering: the future of the San Diego arts scene. The afternoon started with a welcome by Wendy Sabin-Lasker, the director of the Center for Jewish Culture. With a friendly demeanor, she invited the arts representatives present to feel welcome to partake in the center’s activities and facilities.

Ms. Sabin-Lasker then introduced the Executive Director of the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, Victoria Hamilton. Ms. Hamilton acted as the event’s emcee, introducing the various speakers and making everyone feel welcomed and at ease. As always, Ms. Hamilton filled the role of arts ambassador with aplomb.

The headlining speaker at the gathering was Craig Watson, Director of the California Arts Council. Anyone who is familiar with seeking funding for an arts organization is more than familiar with the CAC. For those of you who may be scratching your head, wondering what the heck the California Arts Council is and does, let us explain.

The CAC is a state agency  that is appointed by the Governor of California and the state legislature. Its job is to advance the arts in the state of California by raising public awareness, providing support to arts organizations, and offering professional development to arts professionals.

It’s an important agency!

Director Craig Watson, who is new in his position, proved to be a witty and entertaining speaker. He began by relating the responses of his friends and colleagues as they learned of his new position as the Director of the California Arts Council. Some gave him their congratulations . . . others offered their condolences.

After a round of laughter, he went on to explain that right now is both an exciting and a tough time to be in the arts industry. The ongoing economic downturn has made it hard for arts organizations to make ends meet. Indeed, it seems that every other day a person may look in the newspaper and see an article about an arts organization filing Chapter 11.

Mr. Watson explained that just a handful of years ago, the California Arts Council had a grant budget of $40 million in government money. That’s $40 million that would be divvied up and awarded to arts organizations throughout the state of California.

Due to the economic downturn, the CAC now has a grant budget of $5 million. That’s an 87.5% cut in support for California arts organizations! This placed California in dead- last for state support of the arts in the U.S. Only recently has that changed. We are now number 49 out of 50. Kansas is behind us.

Now seriously, California is arguably the nation’s second biggest arts and culture center – behind New York. We have Hollywood, San Francisco, and San Diego to name just a few arts and culture centers.

San Diego? Yes, that’s right. We have the Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse just for starters. Both theater companies have sent countless plays and musicals on to Broadway and National Tours. And then, of course, there’s the San Diego Opera, the San Diego Symphony, the rich and vibrant dance scene that encompasses three ballet companies (California Ballet amongst them), contemporary companies like Jean Isaacs’ San Diego Dance Theater and Malashock Dance . . . the arts list for this city alone goes on and on and on. . .

So, can you wrap your head around a state as large as California, with an arts and culture community as vibrant as New York’s being second to last for government support? (If you need to understand how the arts affect the economy, read our Arts and Culture Impact blog post by CLICKING HERE.)

Mr. Watson did not paint an entirely bleak picture, however. He went on to explain what he meant by an exciting time to be in the arts industry. He pointed out that in the wake of a dearth of government support for the arts, there are a lot of exciting changes taking place. Many organizations are beginning collaborations that have previously been unseen. Not just with each other, but with private and corporate companies.

On top of that, the arts field is ripe for plowing. The state of California’s leadership has undergone serious changes. We have a new Governor, a new State Superintendant, a new Director of the California Arts Council, and this new leadership makes for a unique opportunity for change.

How do we effect change? It’s simple, when the state won’t support the arts, it falls onto all of us – the average (and not-so-average) citizens. Whether you are an artist, lawyer, accountant, cashier, or receptionist, you can make a difference in the arts. Become active. Buy tickets. Go to arts rallies. Write your representatives. Post and repost on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. Make your voice heard, and your love of the arts obvious.

Oh yeah, and those license plates with the pretty palm trees? Did you know that those are California’s Arts license plates? The proceeds from each and every one of those palm tree plates goes straight to the California Arts Council to support their grants program. In fact, of the $5 million grants budget, $3 million is raised from the license plate program. So . . . don’t you like palm trees? Aren’t they pretty plates?

Above all, in the current climate with the arts hanging on the precipice as they are, Mr. Watson is calling all citizens to action. We all need to be co-conspirators for the arts. It’s up to us to change the trajectory of the arts in California.

End the downward spiral, and

rocket California’s arts back into the stratosphere where they belong.

In California Ballet Company news, last weekend California Ballet Company performed Charles Bennett’s Alice in Wonderland and Wayne Davis’ Souvenir at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Some of you may have attended, and we hope you had a great time!

For those of you who didn’t, well, you missed out.

The performances were well received by the audiences. The combined program of Souvenir and Alice in Wonderland provided the perfect blend of childhood whimsy and classical dance. Given the chance to comment on the performance, one attendee said:

“Fun for everyone. A lot of children and families in the audience, but my husband and I came here for our date and we loved it.

We enjoyed the ballet interpretation of this classic story. The costumes were fantastic and the cast were great not only in dancing but in acting as well. During intermission, some of the ballet dancers dressed in flowers came out to take pictures with people.

There was also a formal ballet in the beginning of the show that was a special treat to the adults.”

The dancers were satisfied, the audience was satisfied, we hope you were satisfied! And if you missed Alice in Wonderland, don’t worry! We have another great family ballet coming up in December: The Nutcracker! Don’t miss the chance to see this holiday favorite on the San Diego Civic Theatre stage with the San Diego Symphony.

California Ballet Company’s

The Nutcracker

December 17-21, 2011
San Diego Civic Theatre
With the San Diego Symphony

For tickets and information call
858-560-6741 or CLICK HERE!!

Next weekend, October 15 and 16, California Ballet Company will be performing our ballet adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece, Alice in Wonderland, alongside Wayne Davis’ classically beautiful Souvenir. The zaniness of Lewis Carroll’s timeless characters will fill the stage at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts for three performances.

Since some of you will be coming to see the show, we thought it might be fun to take a quick look at the history of Alice in Wonderland, the man who wrote the book, and the creation of Charles Bennett’s dance adaptation.

Most people are probably familiar with the Disney cartoon of Alice in Wonderland, first released in 1951. The original tale, however is a little less than 100 years older than that. Anyone who knows a little about the story knows that it was written by an incredibly clever Englishman by the name of Lewis Carroll.

Lewis Carroll

But did you know that it isn’t his real name?

Nope, Lewis Carroll was the nom de plume of Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.

Charles Dodgson (for the sake of avoiding confusion, we’ll refer to him by the better known name of Lewis Carroll) was born on January 27, 1832. He was an incredibly bright boy who began his early education being homeschooled by his father. From age 14 to seventeen, Carroll attended school at Rugby for the American equivalent of High School. Suffering from a stammer, intense shyness, and the stigma that inevitably follows misunderstood genius, the years he attended Rugby were very unhappy ones.

Rugby School – Birthplace of the Rugby sport

“I cannot say . . . that any earthly considerations would induce me to go through my three years again . . . I can honestly say that if I could have been . . . secure from annoyance at night, the hardships of the daily life would have been comparative trifles to bear.” – Lewis Carroll

Although he was unhappy at school, his burgeoning intellect was difficult to miss. Right away, his professors recognized how smart he was, especially where mathematics were concerned.

That’s right, Lewis Carroll was a celebrated mathematician long before he changed the face of children’s stories! His library of mathematical treatises is far bigger than his library of fiction and poetry.

After Carroll finished his education at Rugby, he was accepted at Oxford University, Christ Church College in 1850. Four years later, he graduated, and received a lectureship in Mathematics.

Christ Church College, Oxford University

What’s that? The author of Alice in Wonderland worked as a math teacher? That’s crazy, isn’t it? Well, not as crazy as you’d think, and we’ll get to that in a little bit.

Carroll’s appointment as a math professor at Christ Church College (remember, Christ Church is a part of Oxford University – only one of the finest institutions in the world!) was a permanent position. Not only did it recognize his intellectual superiority, but it offered him financial stability. However, as is often the case with such great minds, he quickly became bored with the job.

In 1856, Carroll took up the, then new, art form of photography. When George Liddell, the new Dean of Christ Church, arrived, Carroll asked for permission to use the college gardens for a photo shoot. He was granted permission, and went about setting up his equipment. While doing so, he was approached by the Dean’s three daughters: Lorna, Edith, and Alice Liddell.

Did you catch that? Yup, Alice Liddell. It is widely accepted that Lewis Carroll’s heroine is based loosely on George Liddell’s second oldest daughter, Alice.

Well, Carroll and the three girls hit it off right away, and spent a lot of time hanging out over the next few years. It wasn’t until 1862 that the momentous occasion happened. On July 4th, Carroll took the girls on a boating trip, along with his friend Rev. Robinson Duckworth. In an effort to entertain the girls during the trip, Carroll started inventing a story about a young girl who, by an act of serendipity, happened to be named Alice. Little Alice followed a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and had a very strange adventure.

Well, you know the rest.

The girls loved it! Who wouldn’t? Alice Liddell begged Carroll to write the story down for her, and he eventually did. He called the original manuscript Alice’s Adventures Underground, which he gave to little Alice Liddell . . . but not before letting another friend take a look at it.

That manuscript, but the way, was later sold by a 76-year old Alice Liddell  in 1928. It was auctioned off at Sotheby’s auction house to an American collector for 15,400 English Pounds!

Carroll’s friend, George MacDonald, had the pleasure of reading the finished manuscript first. He even read it to his children, and they all loved it! Encouraged by this, Carroll decided to submit the story for publication, had it illustrated by the famous illustrator John Tenniel, and changed the name toAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Yes, that’s the real name of the book. Most people condense it to Alice in Wonderland, and California Ballet is guilty of this, too.

Now, you must understand that Charles Dodgson was a well known and widely respected mathematician, lecturer, and authority. He did not want his scholastic persona to become known for writing children’s stories. So, he used a different name when he published Alice. He took the name Lewis Carroll. It’s just plain ironic that his name of whimsy is better known than his given name.

The story of Alice in Wonderland has several Oxford locales hidden with its text, as well as a lot of political satire, childish whimsy, and reasonably sound logic. This is why we said that Carroll’s history as a mathematician wasn’t as strange as it sounded. His familiarity with math and logic can be seen all over Alice in Wonderland, if you know what to look for. There are many cases of argumentative logic in the story, such as the following dialogue between the Mad Hatter and Alice:

March Hare: “Then you should say what you mean!”

Alice: “I do, at least, I mean what I say. That’s the same thing, you know.”

Mad Hatter: “Not the same thing a bit! You might just as well say, ‘I see what I eat,’ is the same thing as, ‘I eat what I see.’

It seems funny, even nonsensical, but there is an undeniably flawless logic in his discourse. Logic that comes from the point of view of a mathematician.

Well, Carroll’s story was a smash hit! The original printing was only 2,000 books, all of which swiftly sold out. In the following years, many editions were published. Today, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is the most widely translated work of English literature, second after Shakespeare.

Carroll eventually went on to write a sequel to his hit novel, titledAlice Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Published in 1871, it was a much darker novel. It reflected a time in Carroll’s life during which he was suffering from deep depression. His father had passed away, he was unhappy in his position at Oxford, and he was just plain in a funk. Nonetheless, Through the Looking Glass was met once again with critical acclaim, and Carroll’s name became a household name the world around!

Charles Dodgson, A.K.A. Lewis Carroll, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly of pneumonia in 1898 at the age of 65. He was two weeks away from his 66th birthday. He now rests at Mount Cemetery in Guildford, Surrey, England.

Throughout the near century and a half since Carroll’s death, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has been through many, many, many iterations. It has been seen as television shows, feature length films, animated movies, video games, audio books, radio adaptations, theatre adaptations, dance adaptations – the list goes on and on. Carroll’s nonsensical whimsy has stolen the hearts of countless generations, and California Ballet Company jumped on the bandwagon in 1995!

Since it’s seminal performance in 1968, California Ballet excels at two things: presenting professional quality dance productions, and producing family friendly story ballets. When Director Maxine Mahon approached Associate Choreographer, and longtime friend, Charles Bennett in the mid 1990’s about creating a series of children’s ballets, he was not only amenable, he was excited! Mr. Bennett had already created a student version of an Alice in Wonderland ballet, and he was chomping at the bit to expand it, and bring up to a professional level.

Tweedles and Alice reheasing in 1995
(Charles Bennet is in the corner of the picture.)

In early spring of 1995, rehearsals began at the California Ballet studios for a new, professional production of a one-hour Alice in Wonderland. California Ballet Company would become the first professional ballet company to perform the new work. Mr. Bennett’s choreography, set to an eclectic score of music assembled by the choreographer himself, was only the beginning. Charles Bennett had long been a fan of multimedia performances, and decided the break the balletic mold. He incorporated spoken dialogue within the performance. He also abandoned traditionally painted backdrops in favor of slide projections, many of which were the original Tenniel illustrations from the book.

The result: an original dance experience that captivated, entertained, and entranced audiences at the East County Performing Arts Center on May 19-21, 1995. While largely condensed (as theater often is) the ballet captured the essence of Carroll’s nonsensical world, without losing an ounce of the story. From the White Rabbit to the Mad Hatter, from the Tweedles to the Queen of Hearts, Carroll’s larger than life characters were presented in their full, whimsical glory.

Since 1995, the production has been on different stages a handful of times. From the East County Performing Arts Center to the Balboa theater downtown, Charles Bennett’s Alice in Wonderland continues to be a family favorite. This year the role of Alice, originated by CBC Prima Ballerina, emeritus Denise Dabrowski, will be danced by Company Soloist Rebecca Correia. Her White Rabbit will be played by Soloist Hugo Carreon, and the rest of the lovable characters will be fleshed out by the phenomenally talented California Ballet corps de ballet.

As mentioned, also on the program will be Wayne Davis’ gracefully gorgeous Souvenir. Set to Tchaikovsky’s luscious Souvenir de Florence, you will be given a chance to watch CBC Principal dancers showcase their talent and skill, while they are framed by the grace and beauty of the California Ballet Company’s corps de ballet women.

Tickets are going fast, so make sure to buy yours today. The performance is this weekend, so there is no time to lose!

We’ll see you at the ballet!

Alice in Wonderland

October 15, 2011 at 2:30pm

October 16, 2011 at 1:00pm and 5:30pm

Ticket Prices: $25-$60; children $25 in most sections

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 858-560-6741 or CLICK HERE!

**Reference material for Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland: www.aliceinwonderlandshop.co.uk;www.chch.ox.ac.uk; Wikipedia.com; www.alice-in-wonderland-book.com

Our season is gearing up, and there’s lots of exciting things happening at California Ballet! Our company has returned from an active summer of teaching workshops, taking classes abroad, participating in international galas, and generally being an active part of the dance scene. Now, everyone is back, working hard in class, and rehearsing hour upon hour to bring you the finest ballet performances that San Diego has to offer.

First up in our season is Charles Bennett’s Alice in Wonderland, October 15-16 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. If you haven’t had a chance to see this adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece, you are missing out. The Mad Hatter, a mostly full deck of cards, a baby that turns into a pig, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and a plucky little English girl all come together to tell a tale of whimsy, childhood imagination, and nonsensical fun!

Seriously, if you haven’t seen this ballet, you really need to!

Also on the program with Alice in Wonderland is a short yet popular ballet piece titled Souvenir. Choreographed by San Diego talent Wayne Davis, and set to Tchaikovsky’s luscious Souvenir de Florence, this piece will provide a perfect counterpoint to Alice’s carefree dance style. The CBC principals, soloists, and corps de ballet will not fail to dazzle in this technically demanding piece of ballet flourishes and grace.

For tickets or more information, call 858-560-6741 or CLICK HERE!

Of course, we are already beginning rehearsals for The Nutcracker. This year, we have ten performances in December at the San Diego Civic Theatre, accompanied by members of the San Diego Symphony! But that’s not where the excitement ends. . .

Have you ever wanted to conduct a Symphony?

Or stand onstage in front of 2,000 people?

How about tour a major news studio?

The Twelve Days of Nutcracker

This year California Ballet Company is hosting a special giveaway for those who support the ballet. The Twelve Days of Nutcracker giveaway offers twelve unique opportunities to our supporters, based upon how much you donate to the ballet. Amongst these opportunities is the chance to tour San Diego NBC 7/39’s news studio, perform a walk on role in this year’s production of The Nutcracker, and conduct members of the San Diego Symphony for the overture during the final dress rehearsal of The Nutcracker at the San Diego Civic Theater.

Sounds exciting? Want to find out more? Check out our page on StayClassy.org by CLICKING HERE!

Or go to our Twelve Days of Nutcracker page on our website by CLICKING HERE!

The more you support the ballet, the more prizes you’ll be entered to win!

Coming up in May of 2012: Cinderella at the San Diego Civic Theatre! We haven’t performed this one since 2008, so pull your ball gown out of mothballs and get ready for some fine fairy tale fun! The beautiful cinder girl will be danced by CBC Principal Chie Kudo, and her dashing Prince Charming will be danced by Guest Artist Vadim Solomakha.

For season subscriptions and/or tickets to individual shows, go to www.californiaballet.org/season or call 858-560-6741.

We’ll see you at the ballet!

So you may be asking, “Really? What is it that a ballet company does during its off-season?”

Well, let us tell you.

When we ended our 43rd season in May with the Choreographer’s Concert, the company’s attention went to supporting our school during the All School Concert, which took place in June. California Ballet School doesn’t just slap together a recital, they put together a full-fledged dance production which stars its students. This year it was Dancing Around the World in 80 Days. The students were phenomenal, and the show thoroughly enjoyable.

Company dancers worked hard as teachers and choreographers for the production, as well as lending their support as enthusiastic audience members. Three company members even went so far as to flesh out the production as performers. Oscar Burciaga, Antonia Delgado, and Joseph Shumate filled the acting roles that pushed the show’s story. While not dancing, the three Company dancers gave gut-busting performances filled with comic antics while donning silly costumes and believable foreign accents.

See, our dancers can do more than just dance!

In July, things ramped up at the California Ballet Centre as the school’s summer intensive workshop began. Hundreds of students filed through the doors for two months, partaking in dance intensive workshops taught by Calvin Kitten (CBC and Joffrey Alum), Marlene Wallace (CBC’s first Ballerina), and Jonathan Sharp (ABT certified instructor and Broadway performer), to name just a few.

Meanwhile, the Company, with the assistance of CBC alumna Talina Del Rio, hosted a California Ballet Picnic at Poway Lake. Once an annual event, the Company plans to reinstate this summer tradition. Turnout was great, and people had a wonderful time riding paddle boast, going fishing, and just enjoying each other’s company on another San Diego Summer day.

See, even ballet dancers know how to have fun!

Not the entire summer was dedicated to fun and games, however. Hard at work behind the scenes, the California Ballet marketing department has been tirelessly working to create a new, edgier image for the company. The 44th Season will see a revamped look and a more whimsical face for the company – staring with the California Ballet season brochure and posters.

Pulling on the talents of Company photographer, Brad Matthews, the marketing might of Marketing Director Diane Grosman, and the social media know-how of Joe Shumate, we had a lot of fun and not a few laughs during special photo sessions with our dancers. Looking to create something that hasn’t been seen before, while still communicating that we’re a ballet company, we tried some new things this year. Piles of nuts, giant playing cards, and dozens of pairs of shoes came into play. There was a lot of trial and error, and some lost time as we continually burst out into fits of laughter. The dancers were all good sports, and went along with the silly things we asked of them. In the end, we got some great photos.

Here are three examples of our work, and the official announcement of California Ballet Company’s 2011-2012 44th Season:

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole!

Alice in Wonderland

Poway Center for the Performing Arts

October 15 & 16

For more info or to buy tickets CLICK HERE!

Plenty of Nuts, Only One Nutcracker!

The Nutcracker

 With the San Diego Symphony

San Diego Civic Theatre

December 17, 18, 21-23

For more info or to purchase tickets CLICK HERE!

It’s All About the Shoes . . .

Cinderella

San Diego Civic Theatre

May 5 & 6, 2012

For more info CLICK HERE!

*Tickets for Cinderella are not yet on sale*

Underscoring our new Company image was the change of name for California Ballet Association members.

For those of you who don’t know, when you donate to California Ballet, you become a member. As a member you receive newsletter, specialized emails, invites to special events (like the picnic), special offers and discounts, ticket exchanges, and more.

Well they are no longer member, now they are pARTners. Why? Because the simple fact is that without your support, we couldn’t do what we do nearly as well as we do it. (Follow that?) You help us spread the word, fill the audience, your donations cover the cost of our outreach programs, your volunteered time makes our special events a reality. You are, in truth, partners.

In appreciation for our pARTners, and to celebrate the inauguration of the new name, we’re holding a one-of-a-kind giveaway called The Twelve Days of Nutcracker. When you donate, depending upon how much you donate, you will be automatically entered into a drawing for twelve special prizes that only California Ballet can offer. Would you like to conduct the San Diego Symphony? How about perform a walk-on role in The Nutcracker. Have you ever toured a major television news studio? These are just a few of the prizes you will be entered to win.

If you want to learn more about the giveaway or being a pARTner, CLICK HERE!

Most recently all of California Ballet’s pARTners gathered at Andiamo! Italian Ristorante in Tierra Santa, CA for the California Ballet Association’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony. The dry business of running the ballet company was quickly disposed of, and then the fun began. A silent auction with items like four tickets to the Padres, special awards given out to well-deserving pARTners, a sumptuous Italian meal, and an address given by special guest Marianne Kushi of San Diego NBC 7/39 filled an afternoon of camaraderie and merriment.

Ms. Kushi’s address was inspirational and pertinent. She urged pARTners to get involved with California Ballet Company’s social media network. She suggested that everyone start by signing up for Twitter and following the company (who’s Twitter handle is @CABalletCo). Ms. Kushi likened social media to a bullet train traveling at 170mph. It’s here to stay, and its moving, changing, and growing incredibly fast. She prompted attendees to become involved and either “. . . get onboard or be left behind.” Thank you Ms. Kushi for your remarks, and we prompt our readers to get on the train by CLICKING HERE.

As a quick nod to the special individuals whose dedication to California Ballet was recognized this year with an award, here is a list of some of the award winners:

Dancer of the Year: Vitaliy Nechay

Corporate Partner: The Mailing Group

Director’s Tribute: Jonathan Stubbs

Diane Metzler Youth Volunteer: Katie Morone

Presidential Award: San Diego Theatres, Inc. (under the leadership of Don Telford)

Student of the Year: Hannah Federman

Summer was full and frantic here at California Ballet, as you can see. Now that we’re swiftly approaching Labor Day, it’s time for us to turn our attention to the next season. Rehearsals are beginning soon for Alice in Wonderland, and auditions for The Nutcracker are this weekend! Time is moving fast, and Season 44 will be here before we know it.

Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella are coming together for a season of sensational storytelling. Don’t miss out on a moment of the family fun!

We’ll see you at the ballet!

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