DALA Opens ‘Sugar Plum On The Hill’ Friday Dec. 5

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on November 22, 2025
- 2:56 pm

Jasper Lee and Anabel Irving in costume as the Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens. Courtesy/DALA

Jasper Lee (Cavalier) rehearses the Sugar Plum Grand Pas de Deux with Allyson Harbert (Sugar Plum Fairy). Courtesy/DALA

BY KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Ten years ago, Dance Arts Los Alamos (DALA) premiered “Nutcracker on the Hill”, a ballet that drew from the holiday classic but added in local lore and history. Then came the sequels: “Ratcracker on the Hill” followed by “Sugar Plum on the Hill”, which punted the story to a whole new level with heightened drama and stakes.

Dec. 5-7, DALA will close the book on this epic holiday ballet with its production of “Sugar Plum on the Hill”. A new holiday ballet is being developed for next year.

It’s a little bittersweet to bid farewell to the “Nutcracker on the Hill” trilogy, Artistic Director Jonathan Guise said. Guise created all three ballets, with some collaboration from the Los Alamos Historical Society.

“It’s always very special to see a concept I come with become reality,” he said. “The biggest reward is seeing students connect and make it their own thing.”

Guise shared the synopsis of “Sugar Plum on the Hill”. The Nutcracker is broken and the Sugar Plum Fairy turned evil. It is up to Gwen Groves, this ballet’s version of Clara, to save the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Land of Sweets. There is also some time travel involved, and few other real-life individuals make an appearance, such as Oppenheimer and Gen. Groves.

The storyline isn’t the only thing that has been revised; Guise said a few of the second act’s dances have been changed around. The Russian dance is switched out for a Georgian one and the Chinese dance is now the Japanese dance. There is no Arabian pas de deux anymore but a Bollywood number and the French Mirlitons are now the Italian Torrone. Mother Ginger also got a makeover; she is patriotic.

With new dances comes new music. Guise said the audience will be treated to everything from contemporary music by Lindsey Sterling, swing music from the 1940s and classical music outside of the Nutcracker Suite.

There are also new locales in this ballet; for instance, Guise said the audience will be treated to a hockey game played in 1938 on what would become known as Ashley Pond.

Guise said this production features the largest cast yet; more than 130 dancers will take the stage.

Having such a large cast only adds to the performance, he said.

“It really raises the level of enthusiasm up and the excitement that it creates makes a tighter family experience for the dancers,” Guise said.

He added that it is a chance for the older students to be mentors to the younger ones.

“It creates a much greater community for us,” Guise said.

He said he is very proud of all the dancers’ efforts.

“The kids have really worked hard … they meet for four to five hours Saturday at the studio to make the best show possible. So hopefully the community comes out to see it,” Guise said.

Besides DALA students, the cast will feature community leaders Dr. Ben Neal, University of New Mexico-Los Alamos Chancellor Dr. Mike Holtzclaw, Los Alamos High School Assistant Principal Ryan Finn as well as professional guest artist Christo McMaster from Festival Ballet Albuquerque.

While Guise created the “Nutcracker on the Hill” trilogy; it took a team to choreograph the ballets. This year’s “Sugar Plum on the Hill” was choreographed by Guise, Rachel Zervakos, Allison Beaux, Lucilene de Geus, Isabella Jimenez, Audrey Roman and Natalie Smith.

Performances are 7 p.m. Dec. 5, as well as 2 p.m. Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 at Duane Smith Auditorium.

Tickets are available for online purchase on DALA’s website or direct ticket link. General admission is $25, tickets for seniors are $15, the fee for students is $10 and children age 3 and younger will be admitted for free.

Guise thanks the community for supporting DALA and its original ballet trilogy.

“I thank the community for always giving us a good welcome and reception,” he said. “It is always a pleasure to perform our ballets for the community.”

The cast of the ‘Ranch Boys School Hockey Team’ rehearses with props in the studio. Courtesy/DALA