Dozens of Students Take Center Stage, Inspiring Peers in Bakersfield’s Nutcracker

Bakersfield’s beloved holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, is returning to the stage for its 48th annual production this this weekend. Presented by Civic Dance Center and the Bakersfield Nutcracker Orchestra, the longtime production is once again enchanting audiences while also introducing the performing arts to thousands of local students through its popular Young People’s Concerts.

On Thursday and Friday, as many as 6,000 students from across Kern County and beyond attended the special, free morning performances at the Dignity Health Theater. Students were bused in from schools all over the county, including Tehachapi, Delano, and Lost Hills, many experiencing live music and a live show for the first time.

“It’s a very unique experience, and we’re glad that we can offer that,” said Erica Ueberroth, executive artistic director of Civic Dance Center, who also plays Mother Ginger in the production.

Dancers rehearse using the giant hoop skirt to prepare for the big performance.

Hosted by Civic Dance Center in partnership with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, the Young People’s Concerts present a 45-minute, kid-friendly version of The Nutcracker. The performance features highlights from the classical ballet, an introduction to the characters and costumes, and behind-the-scenes insight into how a major production comes together. Commentary from Kern County Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Mendiburu helps guide students through the experience and connect the arts to their everyday lives.

“I asked the audience to raise their hands if this was their first-ever concert, and so many hands went up,” Dr. Mendiburu said. “It’s wonderful to be able to partner with the dance center and the orchestra to bring the show to life for these kids.”

Ueberroth said she often hears stories of students who attend the concert and later ask their families to sign them up for dance classes.

“That’s the whole purpose behind it,” Ueberroth said. “As much as academics are very important, there is a whole realm of artistic endeavor that could be someone’s thing, and they just don’t know it yet because they haven’t been exposed to it.”

The production itself is a showcase of local talent, featuring dancers who have grown up with the show and now serve as role models for younger performers and for students in the audience.

Seventeen-year-old Chloe Bickford, a senior at Bakersfield Christian High School, is performing the coveted role of Sugar Plum Fairy. Bickford has been dancing for more than 13 years and has been part of The Nutcracker since she was nine.

“Being the Sugar Plum Fairy is such a unique role,” Bickford said. “It’s a combination of artistry, very complicated steps, and how you present yourself on stage. It’s fascinating to play with those dynamics.”

Bickford is deeply committed to making dance accessible for everyone. She is the founder of a free dance workshop program for children ages 5 to 17 held at local branches of the Kern County Library and plans to pursue public policy with a focus on youth advocacy.

“When I go to teach those classes, I’m not just another girl,” she said. “I’m a princess. I’m a prima ballerina to them. My job is to make sure they can believe in themselves as much as they believe in me.”

For siblings Lucas and Sophia Angelini, The Nutcracker is both a performance and a family tradition. Sophia, a 12-year-old student at Warren Junior High School, is performing as young Clara in act one and as an ensemble dancer in act two. Fifteen-year-old Lucas, aStockdale High School student, is dancing the role he has dreamed of for years: The Nutcracker Prince. 

“Playing Fritz was really fun, getting to be the little kid, but I’ve been wanting to be the prince since I was a kid; that’s been my dream part,” Lucas said. “There’s been no other part that I wanted more.”

Both siblings began dancing at age four, and their mother is one of the directors, making Civic Dance Center feel like a second home. And with cast members coming back to The Nutcracker year after year, Ueberroth calls the cast and crew a second family. 

“We get really close with each other. Even though it’s a lot of hours and hard work, it’s also something you look forward to, because you’re with your friends and working towards that common goal,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old Lucas Angelini describes the Nutcracker Prince as his dream role.

Lucas said each year brings new challenges, new roles, and new opportunities to grow. He especially enjoys performing with a live orchestra.

“You have more control and power, because they’re following you,” he explained. “They’re trying to adapt to what you’re doing and how you’re moving. The orchestra brings it to life a little more.”

Sophia said she loves the acting and interaction that come with her role, as well as the moments when she’s lifted high into the air.

“There’s a part in the finale where I get a lift, and it feels like I’m flying; it’s super fun,” she said. “I do find it really fun to dance with my friends. I get to act with them and hang out with them.”

Lucas also recognizes the importance of representation, especially as one of the older male dancers in the program.

“You can look up to someone else, but you also have to remember you’re the inspiration for someone younger,” he said. “It feels special to be one of the leads, because there are people who have never seen dance, and maybe I’m also encouraging them to join.”

Now in its 48th year, Civic Dance Center’s The Nutcracker, which the organization has produced since 1978, remains the longest-running production of the ballet in Bakersfield, with generations of dancers having passed through its cast.

“There are people who danced in it before I was born, and now I’m here,” Lucas said. “It’s just a great experience.”

For those who get inspired to start dancing after seeing this special performance, Lucas said it’s easy to get started. Don’t expect perfection right away, just work hard and show up, and you will get better.

“You can start at any age. There’s a ton of different levels,” he said. “You can get started and work your way up the levels and slowly become a better dancer over time.”

Bickford agreed, saying you get out of dance the same energy and passion you put into it. 

“It comes down to time management and prioritizing what’s most important to you, what you most value,” Bickford said. “If you love it, you have to make the time to do it.”

As she’s preparing to graduate in the spring and go off to college, this performance will be Bickford’s last with The Nutcracker. As the Sugar Plum Fairy takes her final bow, she’s hoping to leave all that time, energy, and love out on the floor.

“When I go out on that stage, I just want to put my entire heart into it. I’m dancing as the Sugar Plum Fairy, but you can really see who Chloe Bickford is through that,” she said.

For audiences looking to experience the full magic, The Nutcracker runs at the Mechanics Bank Convention Center from Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14. Tickets are available on the Civic Dance Center website.

The Young People’s Concert features a behind-the-scenes look at how the dancers prepare for a show.

Mentors provide footwork advice to ballet students while rehearsing for The Nutcracker.

The cast interacts with the students after the show.