Inside Ballet Lubbock’s 2024 Production with Interim Artistic Director Lily Balogh

Every December, Ballet Lubbock brings holiday magic to life with its beloved Nutcracker. This year, Interim Artistic Director Lily Balogh, who also serves as Assistant Artistic Director, is leading the production with both reverence for tradition and a fresh creative vision. 

Audiences will recognize the classic choreography established by founders Suzanne Aker and longtime Artistic Director Emeritus Yvonne Racz, but Balogh has added her own touches. “We’re keeping a lot of the legacy choreography,” she said, “but there are sections I’ve freshened up and given a new artistic perspective. I’m excited for audiences to see those newer elements alongside what they already love.” 

Balogh is particularly passionate about nurturing the next generation of dancers. For many young performers, The Nutcracker is their first major stage experience, and seeing the older dancers in action is both inspiring and aspirational. “They’re just in awe,” she said, referring to the youngest performers, the mice, angels, and polichinelles. “They see their future and what’s possible if they stick with ballet. I remember feeling that way when I was little, too.” 

The sense of family extends both on and off the stage. Ballet Lubbock’s production is filled with multi-generational connections, with siblings performing together and parents volunteering behind the scenes. Balogh highlighted stories like that of Abbott Reynolds, one of this year’s Nutcracker Princes, whose sister previously danced Dewdrop and now performs Arabian. Another Prince, Simeon Dalton, dances alongside multiple siblings. “It’s such a well-produced show with high production value,” Balogh said, “but at the same time, it’s a family, grassroots effort.” 

Returning alumni adds to the feeling of community. Two former Ballet Lubbock dancers will perform this year’s lead roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, which Balogh hopes will inspire hometown pride. “The way people feel at a football game, that same kind of pride is what I want for our dancers and audiences,” she said. 

Balogh’s artistic decisions aim to balance tradition with accessibility. “Nutcracker has such deep roots, but I wanted it to feel relatable and accessible for our newest generation of audience and dancers. It needed to feel exciting and fresh,” she explained. 

When asked about her favorite role, Balogh chose Marzipan. “It’s a hot take,” she laughed. “But I’ve always loved it, the hops on pointe, the extensions, the turns. The dancers performing it this year remind me of myself at their age. It’s typically an underdog divertissement, and I hope audiences get to appreciate it.” 

Her personal history with The Nutcracker is equally rich. Balogh began performing at age nine with the School of American Ballet in New York and eventually danced with New York City Ballet, experiencing roles ranging from soldier to party scene before performing Sugar Plum Fairy in Lubbock around 2012–2013. Many current dancers remember watching her as children, creating a full-circle moment of mentorship and inspiration. 

Balogh hopes audiences leave this year’s performance with a sense of warmth, pride, and excitement. “I hope they take away pride in Ballet Lubbock, a feeling of having such a gem of an arts organization here, and that they want to return, not just because of tradition, but because they’ve seen something new and inspiring on stage.” 

Ballet Lubbock’s Nutcracker continues to be more than a holiday tradition; it’s a bridge between generations, a celebration of community, and a showcase of artistry that grows each year.