SNB’s Peanutcracker: A Family Affair

Published November 21, 2025

SNB’s Peanutcracker: A Family Affair

by Rosine Bena

I had the privilege of growing up in ballet, and it was wonderful sharing the creation of art with my family. Both my parents were ballet dancers, and I danced my first role in The Nutcracker at age 12. Later, after becoming a professional ballerina and touring Europe and the U.S. (dancing on opera house stages from Lincoln Center to the SF Opera House), I joined my parents in the SF Bay area to start a professional ballet company. Once my daughter Ananda was born, she became part of that family tradition as did my former dance partner, ex-husband and Ananda’s father, Sam Weber.

In 2001, with the help of my mother, Anne Bena; daughter Ananda; Ananda’s father Sam (by then an internationally-known tap dance star) and my present husband (SNB Board President Emeritus) Steven Porter, I founded Sierra Nevada Ballet.

Both my parents have passed now, but the tradition of family performances has continued through the years at SNB with our own family and with the families of other cast members in the company’s production of Peanutcracker-The Story In A Nutshell. Ananda is the Co-Artistic Director and starts the program by singing holiday songs with the audience. Ananda’s husband, renowned physicist Manuel Calderon De La Barca, co-narrates the Spanish/English performance, and my husband, Steve, helps coordinate the tech crew.

In addition to our professional dancers, this year we have 60 student dancers involved in the production, and a number of families have more than one member in the cast.

The Weir family, the Palacios, the Browns, the Southerlands, and the Padillo family have three family members in the cast. Fifteen-year-old Trent Padillo dances the role of the Nutcracker Prince. Trent said, “Being able to dance is such a gift! It is such an amazing journey that I get to share on stage with my family and friends.”

Trent’s 13-year-old sister, Maria, who performs as a rat in the battle scene and in the Chinese dance, agrees: “Dancing is such a joyful experience; sharing that feeling with my family in the show is one of the best things about Peanutcracker to me. It is so amazing!”

Rob Padilla plays Grandfather Drosselmeyer and is excited to perform on stage with his two children. “Watching my family in the production was a joy, but being personally involved as a part of it makes it truly entertaining for me,” said Padilla.

The Stengel family, the Herzingers, the Thomas family, and the Richardson family have two family members in the cast. Twelve-year-old Linnea Richardson said, “The whole reason I started ballet was because of The Nutcracker. I saw the show when I was three years old. My mom said that I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. This is my ninth year in the Peanutcracker. I love doing the Peanutcracker because it makes me feel like I’m someone else entirely. I love seeing the kids’ shining faces after the show, the feeling of being on stage, the excitement before the show starts, and thinking that I might have just inspired someone to go out of their comfort zone and try ballet.”

Linnea’s younger brother, Carson (age 10), performs as a boy in the Party scene and a soldier. Carson said, “If Linnea didn’t do ballet, I would have never been interested. Now I think it is fun, challenging, and now my younger cousin is a page, and we all get to hang out together.” 

Linnea’s mother is a school teacher and helps supervise the children backstage. Linnea said, “Having my family as part of the production means having something to talk about and relate to when one of us is struggling. Whether it is inside or outside of ballet.”

SNB leading dancer, Sara Weir, who performs the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Peanutcracker, puts it beautifully: “I have danced professionally for many years, and I have always adored performing on stage, but there is nothing quite as magical as dancing on stage with my children.”

Having danced on stage as a child with both my parents and later as an adult with my daughter, I have to agree that sharing that experience with family is something truly to be treasured. 

Now, after 24 years of presenting Peanutcracker with Sierra Nevada Ballet, I find that the greatest gift for me personally is sharing the beautiful art form of ballet with my family, all the families in the Peanutcracker cast, and with all the families in the audience. To me, Peanutcracker is truly a family affair and a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

Sierra Nevada Ballet spends over $70,000 per year to help many families in the community who are unable to afford to purchase tickets. SNB invites you to two spectacular fundraising events: a Holiday Home Tour and a Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party, both taking place on December 12 and December 13 (information at sierranevadaballet.org).

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Sierra Nevada Ballet Brings Top Dancers to Reno During Artown by Rosine Bena — July 18, 2025

Sierra Nevada Ballet Offers a Summer of Exciting Events by Rosine Bena — June 6, 2025

Sierra Nevada Ballet Joins Together with Other Arts Groups to Present a Free Grand Performance Event by Rosine Bena — April 25, 2025

SNB’s Brew, Brats and Ballet Features Strong Dance Partnerships by Rosine Bena — March 7, 2025

Sierra Nevada Ballet Offers an Exciting Celebratory Historic Event to Remember by Rosine Bena — January 24, 2025

The holiday season is a time to experience the joy of family by Rosine Bena — December 13, 2024

Fall is filled with excitement for Sierra Nevada Ballet! by Rosine Bena — November 1, 2024

SNB’s DRACULA-The Ballet features Two Top Charismatic Star Male Dancers by Rosine Bena — September 20, 2024

The Importance of Passing Down Legacy in the Art of Ballet by Rosine Bena — August 16, 2024

SNB’s Sleeping Beauty and Prince Have Found True Love in Real Life by Rosine Bena — July 12, 2024

Summer is a Time for the Arts in Our Community by Rosine Bena — June 7, 2024

Spring Has Sprung at Sierra Nevada Ballet with Exciting Events! by Rosine Bena — May 3, 2024

Brew, Brats & Ballet Highlights New Collaborative Performances this Spring by Rosine Bena — March 29, 2024

SNB Creates New Choreography in Collaboration with the Steinway Piano Gallery by Rosine Bena — February 23, 2024

The Arts Are Stronger Together by Rosine Bena — January 19, 2024

SNB Collaborates with Arts Organizations to Create a Performing Arts Hub in Reno by Rosine Bena — December 15, 2023

SNB’s Holiday Peanutcracker Brings the Community Together by Rosine Bena — November 3, 2023

SNB Presents a Tale of Horror in the Spirit of Halloween and Burning Man by Rosine Bena — September 22, 2023

SNB Presents Dracula the Ballet, a Brand New Production! by Rosine Bena — August 18, 2023

SNB performs Peanutcracker-The Story In a Nutshell at the Pioneer Center for Performing Arts on November 23 (open to the public shows at 1pm 5pm) and November 24 (public schools shows at 10am and 12pm) and at the Carson City Community Center on December 5 (school shows 10am and 12pm) and December 6 (open to the public shows at 2pm and 4pm). For ticket information or information about Sierra Nevada Ballet Academy, call 775-360-8663 or visit sierranevadaballet.org.