Newberg, Ore. — Chehalem Valley Dance Academy will present its annual production of The Nutcracker on Dec. 13 and 14 at the Drea Ferguson Auditorium at Newberg High School, continuing a local holiday tradition that has grown over 15 years. Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 14. 

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Tickets, which range from $13 to $30, are available at the door or online at newbergnutcracker.com. The shows will also be streamed online.

“From the onset, CVDA’s Nutcracker has been focused on being a highly entertaining spectacle for the audience,” said CVDA Artistic Director and CEO Kristen Stoller. “The goal has always been to have a quality performance that anyone would enjoy watching, not just the friends and family of the dancers.”

The production features a cast of 100 dancers aged 2 to 18, performing choreographed scenes from the classic holiday ballet. Stoller said the academy strives to make the performance both entertaining and accessible to all ages, with high production values including professional costuming, multiple props, and technical support from the high school’s stage crew.

“A whole different set of the audience’s heartstrings is pulled as they scan the plethora of facial expressions worn by these little dancers,” Stoller said. “Some nervous, some frozen, some confident, and of course, there’s always that one who believes all 550 people in attendance were only there to see her.”

The academy emphasizes that the experience benefits more than the performers. Dancers gain confidence and mastery, while audience members enjoy a festive, family-friendly show.

A dancer twirls on the Newberg High School stage during the Chehalem Valley Dance Academy Nutcracker Performance. (Erica Ann Photography / Courtesy CVDA)
A dancer pointes on the Newberg High School stage during the Chehalem Valley Dance Academy Nutcracker Performance. (Erica Ann Photography / Courtesy CVDA)

“CVDA’s motto is, ‘Dance Skills Are Life Skills,’ and through this performance, the dancers learn that their art, the thing they’re often most passionate about and have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours training for, can offer joy to audience members’ hearts and food in the bellies of those in need,” she said.

All proceeds from ticket sales are donated to local nonprofits providing food and resources to families in need. Since the program began, the production has raised more than $290,000 for the community. This year, money raised will go to food pantry Newberg F.I.S.H., A Family Place Relief Nursery, and The Community Wellness Collective, according to the organization’s website.

The Nutcracker has evolved from a small collection of individual dances in a single community room into a full-scale production. The annual show fosters youth involvement in the arts and creates an economic ripple effect, drawing audiences to downtown Newberg and supporting local vendors and organizations, according to CVDA.

For more information, including ticketing and streaming options, visit newbergnutcracker.com.