A beloved sugarplum dream gets a mischievous twist this Halloween season in Nightmare Before Nutcracker, which reimagines the classic Christmas ballet as a spooky thriller.
This story begins not with a dream but with a nightmare. Nicknamed Spooky Nut, it’s fun, family-friendly, and filled with dancing in many styles, not just ballet.
This will be the second season that the International Academy of Dance in Santa Cruz has presented the Halloween-themed reimagining of Clara’s dream.
Unlike the Academy’s traditional Christmas production, which director Shannon Chipman and her dancers have presented since 2009, Nightmare Before Nutcracker gives the dancers a chance to let loose.
Expect to see rats making hip-hop moves and spiders dancing on pointe. The music promises to be just as creative, with modern interpretations of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker classics intermixed with some surprise song choices.
The spooky world of Clara’s dark dream will be illustrated with artful projections by local artist Cheyanne Donald-Diaz, and lighting effects are designed with strobe-sensitive audience members in mind.
Performances will include an intermission so guests can visit a Halloween “Boo-tique” and find home-made Halloween treats, with proceeds going to supporting the Academy’s teaching mission.
All are encouraged to dress up and join in a costume contest before each show. The evening is also interactive, with audience members invited to participate at times.
“It’s truly designed to bring families together and set a playful, festive tone for the season,” Chipman says.
Chipman has been a star in the local dance community since she performed as the Snow Queen in 1988. She left home to attend the Royal Academy of Ballet in London and the Juilliard School and spent 10 years as a professional dancer before training to become a commercial airline pilot.
Marriage and family led her to choose a career close to home over criss-crossing the skies, and an invitation to take ownership of a fledgling dance school proved to be a perfect chance to realize a longtime dream.
Chipman invites her dancers and volunteer stage crew to add their ideas to the choreography, costumes and story she has created, with inspiring joy always being most important goal in her productions.
“Dance has the power to bring people together across generations,” Chipman says. “It’s something we share, create and experience collectively.”
In December, look for the traditional Nutcracker at Cabrillo College. In June, the IAD and Santa Cruz City Ballet join together for the world premiere of Swan Lake: Wings of Stardust, a new take on the classic ballet that combines ballet with jazz, tap, hip-hop and more.
Asked what she hopes audiences will take away from their experience of the Spooky Nut, Chipman shares her belief in the power of dance—and the joy of sharing it.
“I want audiences to leave feeling full of fun and imagination and ready for Halloween. Our story reminds us that life is made of both battles and celebrations, and like the ebb and flow of any good tale, we can face challenges one step at a time. I hope people are reminded that it’s OK to ask for help when we need it, and that when we come together as a community, we can turn even the scariest nightmare into a dream.”
Nightmare Before Nutcracker runs Oct. 23–24 at 7pm and Oct. 25 at 1 and 4:30pm at The Landing, 251B Kings Village Rd., Scotts Valley. Tickets: $20.50–$25.50. iadance.com
More Halloween Cover Stories!
Clucking Around—Firsthand experience and life lessons on the set of ‘Poultrygeist 2’
The Monsters Are Coming—Local graphic novelist Cole Lemke is a highlight of annual festival
