Holiday Cookie Challenge with San Francisco Ballet Dancers
This year is a special year for the San Francisco Ballet because 2019 marks the 75th Anniversary of presenting the Nutcracker at the War Memorial Opera House. Why is this significant? Because the San Francisco Ballet was the first ballet company to present the Nutcracker in America on Christmas Eve, 1944!
In honor of this special occasion, I met up with Principal Dancers Sasha de Sola and Frances Chung to find out more about the history of the Nutcracker and what it's like performing in this magical masterpiece that so many people see each and every year.
Instead of meeting them at the theater to talk about their roles on stage, I had them meet me at Miette to decorate holiday cookies while we sipped on festive cocktails made with Glenfiddich YO14. But this wasn't just a cookie decorating party, it was a cookie decorating challenge!
Jeff Gosche, who was a recent contestant on Food Network's Christmas Cookie Challenge, joined us to show us some tips and be the judge of who, out of the group, was the best cookie decorator.
Watch the video above to find out who won...!
San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker is one of the most magical shows that you'll ever see! From fairytale costumes to enchanting music and talented dancers, there are plenty of moments and surprises for everyone. Plus, it's inspirational for kids to see other kids dance on the big stage and exciting to see the iconic Christmas tree grow to over 30 feet as Clara begins to dream.
There are also plenty of perks for family nights, date nights, VIP Box Suite parties and more. INCLUDING our Red Curtain Addict Night Out to the Nutcracker on Wednesday, December 18th!!
During our Wintery Wonderland Event, our guests will start the night at Miette, where we hosted this fun cookie challenge for festive Glenfiddich cocktails and seasonal bites! Afterward, we walk to the War Memorial to see the Nutcracker as a group and celebrate the night with a dance party held at the Davies Symphony Hall. We hope to see you there!
One of our favorite scenes in the Nutcracker is the Snowflake Waltz where the dancers perform during a beautiful snow scene! Fun Fact: During each performance, the San Francisco Ballet uses over 150lbs of snow throughout the Nutcracker! It's honestly one of the most beautiful moments we've seen at any performance, EVER!
Another thing that makes this production so special is that it's set in San Francisco. If you look carefully, at the very beginning of the Nutcracker, you'll see Victorian homes similar to those that you'll see on Divisadero. Since 1944, San Francisco Ballet has "revamped" the production six times. The storyline has remained the same but the sets, costumes and choreography have evolved and we think this is the best version yet!
We hope you enjoyed watching our Holiday Cookie Challenge video as much as we enjoyed making it! Definitely add San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker on your holiday list! It's a must-see and who knows, it could lead to a whole new family tradition of your own. Happy Holidays from all of us at Red Curtain Addict and the crew that was featured in and around this film! We hope the holidays are filled with lots of love, happiness... and cookies!
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