Visions of sugarplums

‘Nutcracker’ performances abound this season.

By Andrea Estrada
South Coast Beacon

When snowflakes dance, flowers waltz and giant mice do battle with toy soldiers at the Arlington and Lobero theaters, Christmas must be near in Santa Barbara.

This year is no exception as the Santa Barbara Festival Ballet, State Street Ballet and West Coast Ballet companies present their own unique versions of The Nutcracker, the holiday classic by Russian composer Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky.

Santa Barbara Festival Ballet celebrates its 29th anniversary season with a cast of more than 100 dancers lacing up their toe shoes at the Arlington Theatre for the area’s only fully orchestrated live performance of The Nutcracker.

Artistic directors Denise Rinaldi and Michele Hulse Pearson direct and choreograph the traditional production while Elise Unruh conducts the symphony orchestra, which includes members of the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Meanwhile, at the Lobero Theatre, State Street Ballet, Santa Barbara’s only professional ballet company, presents an innovative, stylized Nutcracker.

Santa Barbara Festival Ballet Fully orchestrated traditional Nutcracker;

2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday;

$15-$38; Arlington Theatre, 963.4408.

State Street Ballet

A stylized Nutcracker; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. on Dec. 14; $20.50-$42.50; Lobero Theater, 963.0761.

Montecito School of Ballet The Night Before Christmas; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 21; $15-$22; Lobero Theater, 963.0761;

West Coast Ballet, 687.6086.