by Molly Walsh
As audience chatter fades, the curtains part and lights illuminate center stage, live theater becomes more than a pantomime, but rather an immersion into the sights, sounds and stories of another realm. This fall, Ballet Northwest will explore a series of dizzying and fantastical worlds through Ballet Victoria’s “Alice in Wonderland” on November 7 and “The Nutcracker” from December 11-20 at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia.
Ballet Victoria is a professional dance company that produces four shows each season at the Royal Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia, with additional touring performances throughout British Columbia and the United States. For almost two decades, Ballet Victoria has been led by artistic director, executive director and choreographer, Paul Destrooper.
Ballet Northwest traditionally presents a guest performance from a professional company as part of their annual season. Past guest companies include the Oregon Ballet Theatre, Eugene Ballet and a selection of dancers from Pacific Northwest Ballet. According to Ken Johnson, co-artistic director for Ballet Northwest, Ballet Victoria’s entertaining show, talented dancers, storytelling ability and accessibility for all ages made “Alice in Wonderland” an ideal production to bring to an Olympia audience.
In addition to performing “Alice in Wonderland,” Ballet Victoria dancers will also be leading a series of master classes with Ballet Northwest dance students.
Through Ballet Victoria’s “Alice in Wonderland,” audience members will journey with Alice down the rabbit hole into the land of the Mad Hatter, Red Queen and a selection of other characters from the classic tale. The show will explore ever-relevant themes relating to the nature of listening and misunderstanding.
Adapting such a well-known story is a multi-faceted process that involves honoring established characters while also incorporating fresh perspectives. Destrooper crafted a family-friendly production filled with elaborate costumes, digital sets and many surprises along the way.
For Destrooper, initial steps involved selecting music and matching certain pieces to characters like the Cheshire Cat and the Caterpillar. Destrooper guides characterization through movement, and tailored the choreography to each dancer.
Destrooper also considered the show’s British roots and incorporated songs from English composer, Benjamin Britten. There will also be selected pieces by Italian composer, Gioachino Rossini from “La Boutique Fantasque” to highlight the playful storyline. According to Destrooper, “Alice in Wonderland” is a show that both ballet novices and enthusiasts will enjoy, with dance numbers that entertain and demonstrate a high level of technical skill.
“If you like traditional classical ballet, you are going to get that. If you like humor, you are going to get that. If you like surprises, you will get that. If you like a little bit of surrealism, it’s going to be there,” said Destrooper.
Then, this December take a midnight journey through the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy and dancing snowflakes during Ballet Northwest’s “The Nutcracker.” For many years, “The Nutcracker” has been a regular part of this local company’s performance season, and they are proud to produce a seasonal holiday experience that the community can access without needing to travel to larger cities like Seattle or Portland.
“The dancers are amazing, the sets are really world class, the costumes are beautiful, and it’s really entertaining,” said Johnson.
Each year, Johnson looks forward to the festive atmosphere at the Washington Center, and different facets of the community gathering for the show. “The Nutcracker” may also serve as a gateway to the unique events and decorated storefronts that line the streets of downtown Olympia in December.
Ballet Northwest’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” is a large-scale production that features roles for both children and adults, totaling around 200 performers. Most of the show’s choreography has been long established, with small adjustments and updates made from year to year, depending on the makeup of the cast. Auditions began in September to leave enough time for every cast member to learn the choreography and have command of their specific roles.
To accommodate school and work schedules, rehearsals have been intensive and on weekends. As cast members continue to fine tune their dancing, an acting coach typically becomes part of the rehearsal process for certain scenes, helping with characterization and stage movement. The show features open auditions, and final cast members may have varying levels of dance experience, depending on the role, and may train at different dance studios during the year. Some adult performers make it an annual tradition to participate in iconic scenes like the Christmas Eve Party or during the mouse battle.
This year’s production of “The Nutcracker” also features the return of guest performer, Maddux Ellison, who trains at the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City. Ellison previously participated in Ballet Northwest’s “Nutcracker” in 2025.
In addition to onstage performers, “Nutcracker” also features a full behind-the-scenes production team that helps transport, prepare and install the show’s set pieces ahead of the show’s run. In recent years, Ballet Northwest commissioned local artist and set designer Jill Carter to update the show’s set pieces. The project required a rented airplane hangar and a dedicated team of local artists, painters and volunteers to complete.
The show’s iconic costumes are altered and updated by a team of three part-time staff members and numerous volunteers. This year’s production will see a premiere of new costumes for several dance numbers in the second act, including the marzipan dance.
Ballet Northwest’s 2026-2027 season will also feature the Olympia Dance Festival and “Don Quixote” in 2027.
WHAT:
Ballet Northwest Presents Ballet Victoria’s Alice in Wonderland
Ballet Northwest’s The Nutcracker
WHEN:
Alice in Wonderland: Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 2 p.m.
The Nutcracker: December 11-20, 2026 at various times
WHERE:
The Washington Center For The Performing Arts
512 Washington St. SE; Olympia, WA 98501
HOW MUCH:
Alice in Wonderland: $35-45
The Nutcracker: $24-47
LEARN MORE:
https://balletnorthwest.org/2026-2027-season-announced/
and https://www.washingtoncenter.org/organizer/bnw/