Every year Ballet Hawaii puts on their own exciting version of The Nutcracker. This year’s production is inspired by Mary Dominis, the wife of American trader, John Dominis, who arrived in Honolulu on April 23, 1827. Mary Dominis hosted the first Christmas Tree lighting in Hawaii at Washington Place in 1858. Her son, John Owen Dominis, married Queen Lili’uokalani on Sept. 16, 1862.

The holiday show will give audiences all the traditional aspects of The Nutcracker… with a twist. The dances will depict the relationship between Mary Dominis and the last queen of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani. Audiences can expect exciting dances that include many tricks as dancers soar across the stage telling their version of this holiday classic.

The performance is a wonderful delight to watch. It definitely puts you in the Christmas spirit and keeps you wanting more. The Nutcracker’s overall production is thrilling for the audience to watch.

“It’s a really fun show to go to if you like to watch dance,” Madison Quartero (10) said. “It’s also a good family-friendly environment.”

This year’s choreographer is Septime Webre and the conductor is Ann Kritinsky.  Webre is a well-known choreographer originally from Washington Ballet who recently worked with Hong Kong Ballet. 

“I think it’s fun to see everything come together,” Runon Tabuchi (10) said. “The choreography, the costumes, and the music all come together on one stage. I feel like you can tell how much work was put into the overall production.”

Ballet Hawaii’s winter show at Blaisdell is definitely something local audiences should see during the month of December.