The Nutcracker has since become an annual offering during the holiday season in much of the western world. On November 12, Lorena Gomez-Maese will be staging Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” with a Southern California twist as the Clarita Vogue Nutcracker–– featuring more of the original music while incorporating diverse dance styles from salsa, to hip hop, and from ballet folklorico to Hawaiian dance styles.

“When I first conceived it [the production], I listened to the music and I could tell what dances would go well with the music. That’s how I chose Hawaiian dance for the reed flute scene, because it had the same rhythm and count,” Gomez-Maese explained.

This production of the Nutcracker will break its hiatus that began with the untimely closing of Gomez-Maese’s Chips N’ Salsa dance studio in 2005. Up until the closing of the studio, Gomez-Maese––a long time dance teacher and director in San Pedro––had staged Clarita Vogue’s Nutcracker for two consecutive years. When asked about the closing of the studio, she said she didn’t see it as ending so much as it was a transition.

“I really never ended it. I just closed my danced studio so I could go up another level in working with professionals as opposed to students,” Maese explained.

Tchiakovsky’s Nutcracker itself is a story about a gift of Nutcracker to a little girl at a Christmas party. The Nutcracker comes alive (in her dream) to fight off a pack of rats that invade the house after everyone is asleep. In Tchiakovsky’s “Nutcracker,” the little girl’s name is Clara. In Maese’s version, the girl is named Clarita, giving the story a contemporary Los Angeles (and San Pedro) feel.

The cast includes 40 dancers, many of which are the principal dancers from the L.A. Ballet with hand picked child dancers with previous dance experience, some of which were students at Maese’s Chips N’ Salsa dance studio. Clarita Vogue’s Nutcracker also features Gomez-Maese’s daughters, Raquel and Catalina Maese, both of which had a significant hand in choreographing the first and second scenes.

Gomez-Maese said that despite the addition of such diverse and contemporary dance styles, more of the original music would be used than usual. Gomez-Maese is adding these dances to the first act, which usually revolves around party guests, gifts, and games as well as the gift that a mysterious man brings the life sized Nutcracker. 

However, it is not only the dance styles that will be expanded. Gomez-Maese designed the costumes with the aim of bringing a melange of contemporary Los Angeles to the stage through vogue and vintage clothing.

Gomez-Maese has larger plans following the San Pedro performances, which includes staging a performance at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown LA in December. She envisions staging annual performances and adding a tour.
The San Pedro performances will be at the Warner Grand Theatre located at 478 W. 6th in San Pedro, on Nov. 12 and 13 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20. Information is available at (310) 548-7891.