The Nutcracker
Field Trip Shows
Thursday, December 14, 2023 - 9:15 am & 11:15 am
Friday, December 15, 2023 - 9:15 am & 11:15 am
Running Time: 80 minutes
Poway Center for the Performing Arts
Southern California Ballet's Nutcracker Field Trip Shows makes the stunning production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker available at an affordable price for San Diego school groups, people with disabilities, and senior groups. Performances are offered during the school day.
Register by November 13.
Reservations made past that date are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Free Curriculum
To provide a more comprehensive experience for those attending the outreach shows, SCB provides a teacher resource packet and additional Nutcracker-themed activities.
Teacher Resource Packet
The teacher resource packet contains background information about all aspects of our show, quick check activities to test for comprehension and application, and full academic lesson plans which align to the CAS, CCSS, and NGSS. This is a resource to help you prepare for your field trip, and we request that you take a look through and see what you're able to use in your classes.
Nutcracker Activities
The additional Nutcracker activities include themed word searches and one-of-a-kind coloring pages replicating scenes from our show! With these coloring pages, your students will be able to recognize the sets and costumes from our production during the show!
Downloadable Resources
Seats Remaining
Ticket Pricing Scale
Total Tickets....……......Price Per Ticket
1 ticket...........................$15 ea.
2 tickets.........................$14 ea.
3 tickets.........................$12 ea.
4 tickets.........................$11 ea.
5 tickets.........................$10 ea.
6 tickets.........................$9 ea.
7-400 tickets.................$8 ea.
Ticket price is determined by group size at the time of purchase, i.e. if a group of 20 adds 2 additional tickets to their reservation at a later date, the 2 additional tickets will be $14 each.
Register
Supplemental Activities
Activities for further student enrichment
In-School Workshops
The Nutcracker
About the Workshop Program
In partnership with Poway OnStage, Southern California Ballet can come to your school to teach The Nutcracker! Featuring high-caliber instruction from expert ballet teachers who help stage the actual show, our 60-minute workshop will give students the opportunity to learn:
Basic ballet movements and terminology
The history and background of The Nutcracker
Simplified choreography from one of our four featured dances (The Party Scene, The Battle Scene, The Snowflakes Scene, and The Land of the Sweets)
About the various costumes the dancers wear
About pointe shoes and pointe work
Participating in In-School Workshops
Following the workshop, teachers will also gain access to exclusive supplementary curriculum that can be used in the weeks leading up to the in-person performance, which includes the corresponding California Arts Standards/Common Core/Next Generation Science Standards for each activity.
If you are interested in In-School Workshops - The Nutcracker, please fill out the interest form at this link. A Poway OnStage representative will be in touch with you to schedule a workshop!
Virtual Nutcracker Field Trip
Virtual Field Trip registration is open.
Poway OnStage, in partnership with Southern California Ballet, is offering a Virtual Field Trip featuring the following unique and exciting content:
Pre-show learning modules include:
The Nutcracker Interactive Story
The Nutcracker Time Machine
Extension activities include:
Artist Videos: Dance Tutorials (Party Children, Toy Soldiers, Chinese Tea, Spanish Chocolate)
Workshop Video: Costume Design
World Tour through the Land of Sweets
Choose Your Move: Choreography Dance
For more information and to register, please visit the website.
“This program was an excellent way to bring VAPA to my students. Some of the children had never seen a ballet performance. They not only enjoyed the dance but also the music. The dance instructions after the show were very fun!”
Sponsor a Student or Apply for Sponsorship
Southern California Ballet’s brand new Student Sponsorship program allows students from selected socioeconomically and institutionally disadvantaged schools to attend SCB’s The Nutcracker free of charge!
Sponsoring a Student Group:
SCB has committed to covering the cost of sponsoring 150 students already, and we hope that you and your generous one-time donation can increase the total number of students to whom we can offer this program, allowing us to reach more students who would otherwise have no access to the performing arts. It costs only $8 to sponsor a student!
Applying for Sponsorship:
Application deadline: October 4, 2023
Only Title-I schools with demonstrable financial need are eligible to apply for sponsorship to attend the Nutcracker field trip shows. Funds are limited and will be evaluated in mid-October based on level of need.
Parking & Transportation
Information for arriving to the Poway Center for the Performing Arts
Park & Shuttle
Arrive at least 45 minutes before your scheduled show time to allow for shuttling to the theater & seating.
Free Parking & Shuttling
If driving, you must park at Lake Poway, 14644 Lake Poway Rd. Poway, CA 92064 (see adjacent map)
There is no parking for private vehicles at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts nor at Poway High school for the Outreach shows (vehicles parked there may be ticketed or towed).
Taking the Shuttle
Shuttle Pick-Up Area: A designated shuttle bus will be near the lower playground at the Lake, on the right side (refer to the circled yellow area on the adjacent image)
The shuttle will transport your group from the parking lot at Lake Poway to the Poway Center for the Performing Arts (around a 4 minute drive, 1.2 miles) and back following the performance
Neither the Poway Center for the Performing Arts nor Lake Poway staff are involved in the shuttle service. Please contact us for details pertaining to the shuttle
Shuttle Parking Location: Park at Lake Poway, then take the shuttle.
Shuttle Pick-Up Area: Shuttle pick-up location in Lake Poway parking lot is noted in yellow.
School Bus Transportation
Arrive at least 45 minutes before your scheduled show time to allow for seating.
For school bus transportation (that you and your school would be providing for itself), please note the drop-off & pick-up locations.
Your driver will drop you off at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts and will meet you at the same location after the performance.
Please see the adjacent map which will be helpful to your school bus driver.
School Bus Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Click on the image to expand it.
Bus Funding Assistance
Need assistance with bus costs for getting your students there?
If you are a San Diego County public school teacher, you can apply for a Bus Grant with ArtsBusXpress to pay for transportation to bring your students to see The Nutcracker.
Before applying for funding, please reserve your group's spots with us, as you will need your performance date and time to apply for the bus grant. Funding is limited, so be sure to get your application in today!
Performance Location
Poway Center for the Performing Arts
14598 Espola Rd
Poway, CA 92064
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservation Questions
How do I edit a paid reservation?
Adding attendees to a paid reservation:
Please create a new form entry (using the regular registration form above) and select “I am adding to an existing paid reservation.”
You will need the original order email address and lookup code, which can be found in your confirmation email.
Changing the selected performance date/time for a paid reservation, or requesting accommodations:
Please contact us to make this type of change.
How do I edit an unpaid reservation?
This applies to orders with the payment method "Purchase order" that have not yet been paid.
Changing the number of attendees or the performance/date time for an unpaid reservation:
Your confirmation email included an "edit" link. Please refer to the image below.
Paying by credit card after finalizing your numbers:
Use the "edit" link as described above to submit final numbers, then change the payment method to credit card.
Can homeschool groups book now, and pay later?
Unfortunately, we do not offer a book now/pay later option for homeschool groups. With SCB’s extremely limited staff resources, we do not have the capacity needed to follow-up on individual reservations, collect payment, confirm attendance, etc, and seats have been left empty because of this in the past.
Keep an eye on the numbers:
Near the “Register” section above, you can find a live view of the seats remaining for each performance. Use this information to decide when it makes the most sense for your group to book tickets.
What if shows sell-out in the interim?
While this is a possibility, note that the 9:15am shows typically have sufficient seats remaining into November, and the 11:15am shows usually begin to sell-out in the first or second week of October.
Remember that you can add to your paid reservation, so you can add bookings/payments incrementally as payments are collected. (And if you are booking 7 or more tickets in each individual purchase, the price will remain $8/ea.)
Do you issue physical tickets?
No. We maintain a list of reservations, so all you need is your group name when you check in!
Can I bring infants?
Babies and infants up to one to two years old are allowed to attend without a ticket, so long as they can sit in their caregiver’s lap throughout the duration of the show. If the infant will need their own seat, then they will need a ticket.
Is there a group size minimum?
No, there is no minimum number of students, but if several small reservations are part of the same group, we strongly prefer that they do one large booking instead of several smaller ones. It is much harder to create an accurate seating chart when there is a single group comprised of several different reservations.
Day of Performance Questions
When should I arrive at the theater?
We suggest arriving at least 45 minutes before your scheduled show time.
For a 9:15 am show, please arrive by 8:30 am
For an 11:15 am show, please arrive by 10:30 am
What happens when I arrive at the theater?
Please sign-in at the reception table outside the theater and a volunteer usher will take your group to your assigned seating. Your group may have to wait their turn in the theater’s courtyard.
How does the shuttle service work?
The shuttle service is free and starts at 8:30 am. There are four shuttles (PUSD full-size school buses). It takes about 5 minutes to get from Lake Poway parking down the road to the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. We have a volunteer stationed at the parking lot to provide assistance and to communicate with us at the theater.
Can extra people show up on the day of the performance?
Unfortunately, no. The outreach performances often completely sell out, and we make our seating chart several weeks in advance, so there isn’t an easy way for us to accommodate last minute attendees. Please contact us if you have questions about this.
Where will we sit?
When you check in, we'll tell you where your assigned seats are and will have ushers that will guide you to them. Seating is assigned taking into consideration a variety of factors and in this beautiful 800 seat facility, we are fortunate that all seats are great!
What is a sensory-friendly performance?
We offer a sensory-friendly performance on Thursday at 9:15 am.
The sensory-friendly performance is the same as our other performances, but features some minor modifications designed to make the experience more welcoming to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other disabilities that cause sensory sensitivities.
These modifications include:
Low ambient lighting kept on in theater during the performance
Slightly reduced sound level
Fewer surprising/loud noises and flashing lights
Have reservation questions? Contact our Outreach Programs Manager.
Email outreach@southerncaliforniaballet.org or use the form here.