Holidays 2022: Why New Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ in San Jose is a family affair

For violinist Chinh Le and his children, performing in “The Nutcracker” is a family tradition.

Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet — a perennial holiday favorite — is always a special event for the San Jose family. And the New Ballet dance company’s production of “The San Jose Nutcracker” this year marks a Le milestone.

When this uniquely South Bay “Nutcracker” opens Dec. 16 at the California Theatre, Le and all three children will be performing: Chinh Le in his customary spot in the orchestra’s violin section, and the younger Les taking up roles onstage. Daughter Naomi, age 20, is dancing the principal role of Clara; son Daniel, 16, is in the role of Fritz; and daughter Deborah, 17, will be dancing with the ballet’s Snowflakes and Flowers.

Choreographed by New Ballet founder and director Dalia Rawson, and conducted by Thomas Shoebotham, evening performances are on the calendar Dec. 16-17, with matinee performances on Dec. 17-18. Also on Dec. 18, the company is offering “My Very First Nutcracker,” a 45-minute, reduced-price morning performance geared for children and toddlers.

Chinh Le, a violinist with Symphony San Jose since 1991, says that all three of the Le family children are musical. Naomi and Deborah play violin and viola, and Daniel is a cellist.

“I always had a dream to have a homemade string quartet,” he said. “But dance still brings us together.”

Daughter Naomi has been studying ballet for 15 years, and has taken on roles including Cinderella and, in earlier New Ballet productions, the Snow Queen, California Poppy, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. She’s been preparing for this production since September, and says “The San Jose Nutcracker,” with its regional twist, is one of a kind.

“Traditionally, the ‘Nutcracker’ is the story of a young girl in a magical land,” she explained. “The New Ballet production plays on the idea that San Jose is the home of innovation. Clara is a problem-solver, someone with that same innovative spirit.”

The production touches on familiar South Bay landmarks, from Tesla to the Gilroy Garlic Festival. “It’s our ‘San Jose Nutcracker,’” she said, “and I think it helps people to be proud of San Jose — kind of like a sports team.”

For Chinh Le, who was born in Vietnam and came to the U.S. in 1980, music has always been an essential part of life. The violinist has performed in a list of prominent South Bay ensembles, including Symphony Silicon Valley, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Opera San Jose, and the Santa Cruz Symphony. He and his wife, Anatasia, have maintained a steady focus on their children’s training in music and dance. He assists them in learning and practicing new scores, and they dance at home performing to his solo violin; Anatasia escorts them to lessons, attends their rehearsals and never misses a performance.

In this production, Le says the only drawback is being in the orchestra pit, where he can’t see the Le kids shine. But he’s clearly proud of their achievements, and he’s always happy to return to Tchaikovsky’s score — especially with this orchestra. Like him, the New Ballet musicians come from posts with other regional ensembles, and he’s performed with many of them for years.

“We’ve all played this score in ‘Nutcrackers’ so often,” he said, “and we all really enjoy returning to it. It’s happy music, and it’s very violinistic.

“Some ballet companies use recorded music instead of live in performance,” he added. “But the dancers know the difference when they can hear the sound coming from real people and not from a box.”

Naomi Le agrees. “For the dancers, it’s a big treat,” she said. And for her, dancing in a “Nutcracker” with family members in the ensemble makes the experience ideal.

“I’m just so excited to get to dance with my siblings and be in the show with our dad. It was a goal when I was little to have all of us onstage. It’s very comforting to have my dad in the orchestra pit. If I can look at him, it just makes everything easier.”

‘SAN JOSE NUTCRACKER’

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 16-17, 2 p.m. Dec. 17-18 (“My Very First Nutcracker” presented 11 a.m. Dec. 18)

Where: California Theatre, 345 S 1st St., San Jose

Tickets: $25-$95 (“First Nutcracker,” $17-$45); newballet.com.