Ballet Arizona’s Nutcracker Festival Charms 500-Plus Children and Families

More than 500 children and families attended Ballet Arizona’s The Nutcracker Festival on Dec. 6. The annual affair included crafts and activities provided by 10 Valley nonprofit organizations, face painting, balloon artists and performances by The School of Ballet Arizona as well as Ballet Arizona’s Sugar Plum Fairy. Fabulous Food catered a festive holiday brunch.

Adrienne Schiffner chaired the event, which raised more than $31,000 for The School of Ballet Arizona. Her co-chairs were Talia Catha-Jay and Colleen Steinberg.

Nonprofit organizations that participated in the event were Arizona Humane Society, Arizona School for the Arts, Arizona Science Center, Childsplay, Desert Botanical Garden, Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Heard Museum, Musical Instrument Museum, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and Phoenix Zoo.

Adrienne Schiffner, Talia Catha-Jay, Rat, Colleen Steinberg and Carlos Valcárcel

Gina Santiago and her daughter; Great Arizona Puppet Theater booth

Guest with Buddy, the dog; Kayla, Arizona Humane Society

Guests at the Desert Botanical Garden booth

The pointe shoe decorating table

Reaghan and characters from “The Nutcracker”

Stephanie Goodman, Nicole Nakaji and Lauri Termansen; the Childsplay booth

The Phoenix Zoo booth

Voices Carolers