By Lyn Bronson

Tania Agacanian & Zuri Goldman

After an absence of four years from Sunset Center, Dance Kids of Monterey County had a triumphant return last night preceded by a gala reception and silent auction in the lobby. This was the first of five performances that will end on Sunday afternoon. Although it had aspects of a  Hollywood “spectacular,” this production didn’t quite overwhelm us with a fabled “cast of thousands,” but with its impressive sets and a cast of 100 kids from ages 4 – 18, it almost looked that way. Guest stars on the program, Gary Franco in dual roles as the Nutcracker and the Arabian, co-anchor of KION-TV Hunter Finnell as Mother Ginger, Zuri Goldman as the Cavalier, and Stephanie Waldrip-Gable as Drosselmeyer, added a professional sheen to the production.

The all important role of Clara was performed by Fiona Alfait, and there were some very significant performances by Sarah Butler as Harlequin, Alyssa Jang as the Rat Queen, Jade Suyematsu as the Snow Queen, Tania Agacanian as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Lily Montassar as Spanish Rose.

Sunset Center in its new configuration since the recent major renovation is now a much more expensive venue that has become cost prohibitive for many local productions sponsored by youth and school groups, and this new factor caused Dance Kids of Monterey to present its annual Christmas shows in Monterey during the past four years. Thanks to the efforts of Sunset Center’s new Director, Peter Lesnik, and former Carmel Mayor, Ken White, meetings with local businesses were initiated that helped to find several sponors and anonymous benefactors who made the return to Sunset Center possible.

For so many concert productions as Sunset Center we see mostly older affluent people in the audience, but, last night it was a youth audience of families with young children. It was a glorious sight!

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