EBCPCA Presents Compania Mexico Danza's 3rd Annual Nutcracker Pinata

Director Rene Gonzalez became fascinated with the Nutcracker Ballet when his parents took him to Oakland and San Francisco to see the ballet when he was a young boy.

As a performer of Mexican folk dance throughout most of his life, he also wanted to do something unique by incorporating the Nutcracker Ballet with folklorico.

One day, while watching an African-American dance company on YouTube performing a cultural variation of The Nutcracker, it made Rene think about performing this famous production with a Mexican twist.

Rene showed Director Martin Romero this YouTube performance and the two of them began to collaborate their ideas to perform Nutcracker Pinata. Martin’s years of professional dancing and instructing helped him to transform the classical ballet into a modern Mexican folkoric production. After several years of concept development, it was first brought to the stage in 2012.

Each year the production is further developed to enhance the holiday theme as Clara, the main character, travels through different regions of Mexico. Every year, the audience can expect a new and exciting production. A family tradition has taken form!