DALA News:
Dance Arts Los Alamos (DALA) will present “Sugar Plum on ‘The Hill’: Part 3, The Mysterious March” Dec. 5-7 at the Duane Smith Auditorium. This original ballet is the final installment of DALA Artistic Director Jonathan Guise’s Nutcracker on “The Hill” trilogy, the only narrative trilogy of full-length ballets in western ballet repertoire.
The story combines the traditional Nutcracker ballet with the unique history and character of Los Alamos, based on Guise’s thorough research of the Manhattan Project and close collaboration with the Los Alamos Historical Society. The first production in the trilogy, “Nutcracker on ‘The Hill,’” earned the Historical Society of New Mexico’s Dorothy Woodward Award in 2022 for its historical and cultural significance.
In “Sugar Plum on ‘The Hill,’” the Spy, Gwen, and “Oppie” Oppenheimer are launched into time travel by the magic of the nutcracker doll. They must find a way to help the Evil Sugar Plum Fairy remember her goodness and restore the Land of Sweets, meeting new and old friends along the way. This will be the second time “Sugar Plum on ‘The Hill,’” has been performed, originally premiering in Los Alamos in December 2022. This year’s performance is an occasion not to be missed.
The cast is DALA’s largest yet, involving more 130 dancers and community members, ranging from ages three through adult, including appearances by community leaders Dr. Ben Neal and Dr. Mike Holtzclaw; adult dancers; DALA’s pre-professional dancers; and Christo McMaster, a professional guest artist from Festival Ballet Albuquerque.
Choreography and staging for the 2025 production is by Jonathan Guise, Rachel Zervakos, Allison Beaux, Lucilene de Geus, Isabella Jimenez, Audrey Roman, and Natalie Smith.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. Tickets are available for online purchase as of November 1st via DALA’s website or direct ticket link. General admission is $25, the fee for seniors is $15, the fee for students is $10 and children age 3 and younger are free.
“Sugar Plum on ‘The Hill,’” audiences are invited to DALA’s Winter Mixed Repertoire Showcase at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at Duane Smith Auditorium, featuring the diverse genres of dance DALA has to offer alongside a live performance collaboration with choral group Coro de Cámara. In spring 2026, DALA will present the annual Young Children’s Showcase featuring its youngest dancers; the Spring Mixed Repertoire Showcase; and a full-length production of Neverland, an all-new ballet reimagining of Peter Pan which will take audience members of all ages on a flight of adventure! Patrons of the arts can also look forward to the annual DALA Spring Gala and year-round giving opportunities through the DALA Circle.
For more information, visit www.danceartslosalamos.org or call 505.672.9462.
About DALA
Dance Arts Los Alamos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in Los Alamos County since 1994. DALA is dedicated to promoting dance in Los Alamos, White Rock and Northern New Mexico by providing safe, professional, progressive instruction and quality performances. DALA offers over 90 classes per week for ages 18 months through Adult in Dance Exploration, Pre-Ballet, Classical Ballet & Pointe, Pas de Deux & Variations, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Classical Spanish, Tap, Musical Theatre, Progressing Ballet Technique, and Adaptive Dance, a class for dancers with disabilities to practice motor skills, rhythm, and movement discovery in a safe, paced, and professional environment.
DALA presents multiple productions per year, including the beloved Nutcracker on “The Hill” trilogy at WinterFest, a full-length ballet in the spring, the annual Mixed Repertoire and Young Children’s Showcases, plus additional performances throughout New Mexico. Selected advanced dancers compete annually at the Youth America Grand Prix international ballet competition and in 2024, received a Top 12 Score for Large Ensemble and in 2025, advanced to world finals with a Top 6 Score for Large Ensemble with dancers placing in Top 25 for Classical performance. All DALA instructors come from an incredible background of professional dance and/or dance in higher education. DALA has locations in White Rock and Los Alamos, reaching more than 300 students. Visit www.danceartslosalamos.org or email office@danceartslosalamos.org for more information, and follow DALA on Instagram @danceartslosalamos and Facebook.