A Winter Ballet Tradition Thrives in Tahoe’s Quiet Town
As winter descends on Tahoe, one local dance company is at its busiest, preparing for a cherished seasonal performance. On a chilly night in Tahoe City, a group of over 20 young dancers gathered in a studio for a Nutcracker rehearsal, their movements synchronized under the watchful eye of Christin Hanna, the founder and artistic director of the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective.
Hanna, who stood at the forefront of the studio, observed every dancer’s move with precision. With the performance just two weeks away, she recalled the company’s origins. “We actually started out as Tahoe Youth Ballet,” Hanna explained. “It was modeled after the company I actually studied with in Reno, which sadly no longer exists, but it was called Nevada Festival Ballet.”
Maria Palma
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KUNR Public Radio
The collective now boasts 76 members, from children to adults, all committed to bringing high-quality arts to their rural area. “Arts at the level that we put it on is more commonly seen in more urban areas. I don’t think it’s fair that because you live in a rural area, you don’t have access to great arts programming,” Hanna emphasized.
This year’s Nutcracker, set in 1919 Lake Tahoe and inspired by the historic Tahoe Tavern, will be performed at the North Tahoe High School auditorium, showcasing the dancers’ talent despite the lack of a dedicated performing arts center.
Maria Palma
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KUNR Public Radio
Romelia Broglio, who joined the company as its youngest member, reminisces about her journey. “When I started in 2019 I was nine years old. I was the littlest in the company for, like, three or four years,” she said. Now, Broglio has risen to the role of the Snow Queen, a testament to her dedication and leadership.
Maria Palma
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KUNR Public Radio
Mila Quijas shares a similar story of growth and achievement. “We don’t get much dance up in Lake Tahoe. It’s a small town. But there’s still lots of kids who love to dance. I remember saying I didn’t think I would come this far. And now I have,” Quijas said.
Students from across the Tahoe Basin, including Carson City and Truckee, often travel significant distances to attend rehearsals. Hanna ensures that financial constraints do not hinder participation, offering over $35,000 in scholarships for tuition, dancewear, and pointe shoes in 2024.
“We do not charge any fee to any family. We actually contract the dancers as if they were professionals, and we give them a little stipend so there’s no barrier,” Hanna stated. As the music of Tchaikovsky plays on, the dancers, ranging from Snow Queens to budding professionals, continue to bring the enchanting world of ballet to their community.
