Julia Rowe & Jaime Garcia Castilla

San Francisco Ballet’s Julia Rowe Graces The Nutcracker Stage

Photo Credit: Cecile Carlos-Janicek

San José Dance Theatre is honored to present Julia Rowe, soloist for the San Francisco Ballet, dancing the principal role of Sugar Plum Fairy at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts opening weekend of December 1, 2, and 3.

Ms. Rowe has fond memories of dancing The Nutcracker… “I grew up on the East Coast in Pennsylvania. My school, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, performed George Balanchine’s version of The Nutcracker. In that production, the second act begins with the youngest students as angels encircling the Sugar Plum Fairy as she does her solo variation. I loved being an angel and dancing on stage with the Sugar Plum herself! I really looked up to the older girls who were dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy and Dew Drop roles. I definitely aspired to be just like them someday.”

Ms. Rowe is especially excited to bring her artistry to first time San Jose ballet viewers. “I hope they get lost in the magic of it all! For me, dancing in The Nutcracker is about spreading joy and sharing my love of ballet with people of all ages and backgrounds. I am really looking forward to dancing at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.”

Ms. Rowe started serious ballet training at the age of seven. “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a ballerina when I grew up. As I got older, I realized how difficult this career path can be and how many sacrifices I would have to make. But the hard work just makes the journey more worthwhile. That is a lesson that my teachers taught me early on.” Julia moved to San Francisco for her senior year of high school to train full time at the SF Ballet School.

Julia enjoys the diversity, culture, and food of the Bay Area. “I love the Bay Area and I’m very fortunate to be able to do what I love in an area that I love. I’m very excited to dance in San Jose, it’s a city that has so many parks and green spaces and there is always something new to see or somewhere exciting to visit.”

San José Dance Theatre is honored with Julia Rowe’s artistry gracing our stage the first weekend of December. As she stated, “It’s sort of a cliché, but my favorite role is always the one I’m dancing at the moment! Every role is different, and I love finding ways to make each performance my own.”

Photo Credit: Cecile Carlos-Janicek

The Nutcracker is an enchanting ballet in which young Clara Stahlbaum’s favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical, Candy Kingdom.

Tickets for the performance range in price from $38-$68 and may be purchased online at sjnutcracker.com. With San José Dance Theatre’s commitment to making the arts more accessible to all in the community, half price tickets are available for both Friday night performances and group pricing is available for all other performances. Tickets are also available through the City National Box Office, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113 or by phone at (408) 792-4111, Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.

 

About San José Dance Theatre

For more than 60 years, The San Jose Dance Theatre has trained beginning through advanced dancers for a lifetime of participation in and appreciation of the art of classical ballet. Originally founded in 1954 as Paul E. Curtis Jr.’s Los Gatos Academy of Dance and West Valley Foundation, San José Dance Theatre is the resident ballet company of the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose and was voted Best Dance Company in Silicon Valley by the Metro. San José Dance Theatre’s vision is to inspire dancers of all ages in the exploration of the art of dance, to foster growth through high-level training and mentoring experiences by professional dancers and instructors, and to promote the art of dance through creative public awareness campaigns.

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