“The Nutcracker,” an annual student-run ensemble by Cardinal Ballet Company (CBC), has been transporting audiences to a winter wonderland since 1993. On Dec. 8, CBC brought the holiday season to life yet again.
Students at CBC manage every detail from end-to-end, from costumes to marketing. It starts with auditions and casting.
“Casting is based on three main factors: seniority, reliability and preferences,” said CBC Executive Director Katie Baik ’25, who oversees operations. “We prioritize seniors and those graduating for lead roles. Then, we consider reliability based on past experience, as well as preferences indicated on the casting forms.”
One of the most eye-catching features of “The Nutcracker” are the costumes. Readying the costumes means “altering existing costumes or creating new ones to ensure dancers are comfortable and able to perform well,” said Devyn Sasai ’27, one of the costume coordinators at CBC.
In addition to coordinating the costumes, Sasai and her team are in charge of handling the props, which include handheld props, furniture like couches and tables and a Christmas tree to fit the holiday theme.
Beyond the set and the costumes, CBC’s leadership is responsible for managing the financial aspects of the production, which includes staying on top of funding applications, renting the theater and other essentials to keep the ballet functioning, said Emily Okabe ’24, a third-year financial coordinator for the company.
While the performance only lasts for two hours, Baik told The Daily that the cast dedicates themselves to weeks of rehearsals to become show-ready.
According to Sydney Kaminski ’25, “One challenge every year, especially with [the pieces] ‘Snow’ and ‘Flowers,’ is getting everyone there for all the rehearsals. It’s really harder than you might think because people at Stanford are super busy.”
Rehearsals can also be quite demanding “in terms of stamina, especially if you haven’t been on pointe for a while,” Kaminski said.
Even the small things need to be practiced. Sasai recalled rehearsing a battle scene between the Mouse Queen and the Nutcracker where one of the Mouse Queen’s mice gets shot and is supposed to scream loudly. “That mouse had to practice her screams a lot to make sure everyone could hear,” Sasai said.
Although “The Nutcracker” is a timeless classic in ballet, the CBC brings fresh elements to their performance. According to Kaminski, casting new dancers every year keeps the performance feeling new. “Everybody in CBC is so talented, but everyone’s also such a unique dancer. They bring different skill sets and ideas about what they want to do in their role.”
Okabe said, “I’m just really happy to be a part of this company. Back in high school, I felt like once I graduated, that would kind of be the end of ballet.”
The CBC’s reenactment of “The Nutcracker” is much more than just a ballet. It brings together the passion, commitment and creativity of the dance community at Stanford. According to Baik, every detail, including the intricate costumes and the stunning choreography, is a testament to the artistry and dedication of CBC’s members.