Angela Watson Debuts in the Solo Role of “Ballerina Doll” in the SF Nutcracker Ballet
Oakland Ballerina Angela Watson danced the Principal Character role of Clara in the San Francisco Nutcracker Ballet for 2 consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017) making history as the first African American to dance the role for over 3 decades. Miss Watson has risen over the years since 2016 to be inducted as one of 12 elite SF Ballet School's International Trainees in 2021 (a second company position), despite the 2020 COVID shuttering of the Arts, and in 2022 she was promoted to the position of Apprentice and her Nutcracker performances included the Snowflake, Flower, Spanish and French Dancers.
NOW, in 2023 Angela Watson has grown from dancing the young girl Clara to a Full S.F. Ballet Company Member and debuts in the famously brilliant Act I Party Scene, with Clara, growing trees & dancing dolls, of the 2023 San Francisco Nutcracker Ballet in her very first Company Member solo role, Ballerina Doll. Her Ballerina Doll performance schedule is: Fri., 12/22/23 2pm; Sat., 12/23/23 2pm and 7pm.
Her other roles will be performed throughout the S.F. Nutcracker Ballet's 2023 Season of this cherished American Classic and endeared Holiday Tradition which was first presented in America by SFBallet in its full version in 1944 on Christmas Eve nearly 80 years ago. The San Francisco Nutcracker Ballet opened on Wednesday, December 13th and runs through Saturday, December 30th.
Group tickets of 10 or more will get you a 20% discount so if you want to be a part of Oakland History and the History of San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker in Angela's journey towards changing the face of classical ballet on and off stage please secure your tickets NOW at: https://www.sfballet.org/productions/nutcracker/ .
Courtesy of S.F. Ballet Tamara Rojo Artistic Director, on September 29, 2023, Angela performed the variation for OBC as its VIP Guest at the Oakland premiere of the film FLOWER, produced by and starring Misty Copeland, to roaring applause from all levels at the Paramount Theater and the droves of Oaklanders who came out to witness the eloquence of this emerging star. She made Oakland, San Francisco and the ballet world proud, not to mention her family.
Because of Angela's representation and S.F. Ballet's IDEA program, there are multiple younger Black ballet dancers coming up behind her at S.F. Ballet School and apprenticeship. There are still challenges facing S.F. Ballet and other companies. These include giving more exposure on stage and in the media, increasing opportunities to perform leading solos, providing pointe shoes that meet the skin tone necessities of all dancers and providing skilled makeup and hair stylists who are capable of working with all skin tones and hair textures. It is a work in process and progress is being made. We see change and we hope to see more to come.