IN THE PRESS
2025
Cultural Daily
This Week in Dance
Orange Coast Magazine
Top Things to Do in O.C.: April 9th through 15th
LA Dance Chronicle
Fairy tale on pointe
Irvine Standard
Soaring to Success
Greer OC
Festival Ballet Theatre Presents Sleeping Beauty
Modern Luxury
April Calendar
Huntington Beach Living Magazine
Sleeping Beauty at Barclay Theatre
2024
Village TV
This Day-TV Interview
HB Living Magazine
The Nutcracker
Culture OC
A Nutcracker for Everyone: Five Unique Takes on the Holiday Classic
Culture OC
Culture OC Picks the Season’s Best for 2024 in Orange County
Modern Luxury
Orange County’s Best December and January Events
Cultural Daily
And…the Nuts Have It
Kidsguide
Holiday Shows in Southern California – The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol & More
LA Times Daily Pilot
Irvine Barclay Theatre’s programming set to bring holiday cheer
OC Register
Where you can see ‘The Nutcracker’ in Southern California during the holidays
Irvine Standard
Holiday arts events
Aliso Laguna News
Festival Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker
Greer’s OC
Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker Returns to Irvine Barclay Theatre
Greer’s OC
A Festive Season of Celebrated Performances: Irvine Barclay Theatre
Trekaroo
The Best Christmas Events in Orange County, CA for 2024
Sandy Toes and Popsicles
Nutcracker Performances in Orange County 2024
TV or Not TV
SoCal music & dance, Dec. 2-9: ‘Nochebuena,’ ‘The Nutcracker,’ Zubin Mehta and more
2023
Aliso Laguna News
Festival Ballet Theatre – The Nutcracker
Los Cerritos News
‘Nutcracker for Kids’ and a Full-Length ‘Nutcracker’ Hearken the Holiday Season
Riviera Magazine
Calendar Listing
2022
South County Magazine
Nutcracker 2022 – South County Magazine
Balancing the Chaos
Win Tickets: Festival Ballet Theatre Presents The Nutcracker
The Signal – Santa Clarita Valley
Holiday Entertainment
Sandy Toes and Popsicles
Nutcracker Performances in Orange County 2022
2021
KTLA News
‘The Nutcracker’ Delights Families
Irvine Weekly
Irvine Barclay Presents The Nutcracker with Festival Ballet Theatre
Voice of OC
‘The Nutcracker’ Holiday Dance Tradition Returns to Orange County
Voice of OC
Local Arts Groups Get Creative and Prepare for a Post-COVID World
2020
Voice of OC
A Winter Without ‘Nutcracker’ Strikes a Hot to Companies and Dancers
Voice of OC
Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season in the Year of Coronavirus
2019
Hauntlet Media
Festival Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Balitang America
Fil-Am Dancer Sami Santos Plays ‘Clara’ in Festival Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Asian Journal
Young Fil-Am ballerina dances lead role in Irvine Barclay Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’
2018
Orange County Register
OC ballet theater opens 30th season
Voice of OC
“Why can’t ballet be the new hip-hop?”
LA Times/Daily Pilot
Festival Ballet Theatre kicks off 2018-19 season with ‘Ovation’
Mission Viejo News
Festival Ballet Performs “Ovation” Performance At Irvine Barclay Theatre October 13-14
LA Times/Daily Pilot
Gala of the Stars benefits Festival Ballet Theatre
Critical Dance
YAGP 2018: The Final Round
2017
Orange County Register
Most Influential 2017: Meet the 100 top influencers in Orange County
Orange County Register
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Champion Lex Ishimoto Returns Home to Irvine to Dance ‘The Nutcracker’
New University
Festival Ballet Theatre Presents The Holiday Classic, “The Nutcracker”
Let’s Play OC
Festival Ballet Theatre NUTCRACKER Irvine Barclay Theatre 12/9-12/24
Los Angeles Times Orange County
A Holiday Ballet Tradition Returns to two Orange County Stages
Orange County Register
12 Top-Tier Productions of ‘The Nutcracker’ You Can See in Southern California
Orange County Register
Start Your Holiday With Shopping at the Library and a Performance of “The Nutcracker”
Broadway World
Dazzling Dancers, Gallant Prince, and Stunning Sugar Plum Fairy Make Spirits Bright For Pacific Symphony’s NUTCRACKER FOR KIDS
Coast Magazine
Dance All Night: An August Calendar Feature
Orange Coast Magazine
Entertaining OC Events in August
Newport Beach Lifestyle Magazine
Around Town : The Best in Ballet
Orange County Register
Festival Ballet Theatre’s ‘Don Quixote’ opens with American Ballet Theatre stars at helm
LA Times/Daily Pilot
Festival Ballet Theatre lures ABT stars to O.C. for ‘Don Quixote’
LA Times/Daily Pilot
Students from CdM and H.B. among finalists in Music Center program
Irvine City News
Top 10 Things To Do In Irvine In March
PBS SoCal
Festival Ballet Theatre presents Don Quixote
Broadway World
International Ballet Stars In Don Quixote At The Irvine Barclay Theatre
2016
Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz Blog
The Nutcracker Takes Over Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz
Orange Coast Magazine
All the “The Nutcracker” Ballet Performances in Orange County
Modern Luxury Orange County
A Christmas Story
Orange County Register
‘Secret Garden’ aims to make a contemporary ballet classic
Coast Magazine
Ballet at the Barclay
Orange County Register
Southland students dance to inspire at Festival of Children
Orange County Register
Orange County’s Festival Ballet Theatre brings in dance stars for ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
2015
Orange County Register
Festival Ballet Theatre’s ‘Nutcracker’ is a homecoming for pro dancers
LA Times
Where to find ‘The Nutcracker’ in Southern California
Orange Coast Magazine
We Got Yer ‘Nutcrackers’
Hopscotch & Jellybeans
The day I took my 3 boys to the Ballet
Balancing the Chaos
Le Corsaire Suite and Mixed Repertoire at Irvine Barclay Theatre
Newport Beach Indy
Artscapes: A Duo of Emotional Dance Concerts
Orange County Register
Southland’s Summer Intensive Students Learn From The Best
Newport Beach Indy
Newport Dancers Pirouette in Plum Roles
LA Splash Magazine
An Elegant Swan Graces Irvine Barclay Theatre
Orange County Register
Fountain Valley’s Southland Ballet Academy troupe is primed en pointe
OC Mom Magazine
All you need to know before you see FBT’s Swan Lake
Orange County Register
Dance Stars Align For Festival Ballet Theatre
2014
Orange County Register
Nutcracker Brings Home The Dough
LA Splash Magazine
The Nutcracker Theatre Review – This “Nutcracker” Brings Traditional Christmas Joy To Orange County
OC Family
Why FBT’s Nutcracker is the Mother Ginger of them all! Shows Dec. 12-24.
OC Mom Magazine
14 Backstage Secrets Behind OC’s Biggest Holiday Ballet: FBT’s The Nutcracker
Arts Orange County
Salwa Rizkalla Receives Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for Artistic Visionary
Orange County Register
Former ballerina dedicates a lifetime to dance
Orange County Register
Southland Ballet Academy
Orange Coast Magazine
Artist Spotlight: Salwa Rizkalla, Gala of the Stars
Yahoo! Music
Getting to the Pointe: Amazing Ballet-Inspired Music Videos
Huntington Beach Independent
Festival Ballet to present Gala of the Stars
Broadway World
Festival Ballet Theatre to Host 2014 Gala of the Stars at Irvine Barclay Theatre
OC Family
SBA registration open, why ballet is so important, and keeping kids interested
Orange County Register
O.C. ballet dancers take the stage in New York
Orange County Register
Southland Ballet Academy
Orange County Register
Artists of the Week: Madeline Woo and Clara Mason
Huntington Beach Independent
Friend of Festival Ballet Theatre is back
2013
USC Neon Tommy
Ballet Stars Guest in Orange County
CBS Los Angeles
Guide to The Festival Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker
CBS Los Angeles
Southern California’s 5 Best ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballets
Where Magazine
Orange County Weekend Events Roundup
Orange County Register
Three ballerinas fill Clara’s slippers
Orange Coast Magazine
David Thompson, Slipper-Toed Scene-Stealer
Bask Magazine
Sugarplum Fairies and Fantasy
Huntington Beach Independent
Dance Review: ‘Firebird’ burns bright at Barclay
Orange County Register
Oscar-winning effects man contributes to new ballet
Huntington Beach Independent
‘Time’ is the essence
Fountain Valley Living
Festival Ballet to present Gala of the Stars
Orange County Register
Festival Theatre faces realities of the business of ballet
Newport Beach Independent
Newport Dancer Soars in Nutcracker
CBS Los Angeles
SoCal’s 5 Best ‘The Nutcracker’ Ballets
PNC Commercial
PNC commercial featuring FBT/SBA young dancers
2012
Los Angeles Times
‘Nutcracker’ guest artists like Joy Womack can make a difference
Daily Pilot
Costa Mesa dancer performs with the stars
Huntington Beach Independent
This ‘Garden’ is a tough row to hoe
LA Weekly Blogs
5 Dance Shows To See This Week
OC Family
Secret Garden kicks off the season for FBT this Sunday!
Donna On The Town
The Party Masters!
Daily Pilot
Intensive Ballet Program ends with Shows
Huntington Beach Independent
Festival Ballet Theatre to present gala show
Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot
The Beauty and the Barge Workers
Los Angeles Times
In ‘First Position,’ young ballet dancers bend and leap to compete
Huntington Beach Independent
Dancer from Fountain Valley living a dream
Coast Magazine (pages 98 and 102)
Local Talent
Fountain Valley Patch
Local Teen Rises to Ballet’s Ultimate American Stage
OC Family
Pre-show look at FBT’s upcoming Sleeping Beauty ballet
Bucket List Publications
Don’t Miss the Most Famous Kiss of all Time!
Huntington Beach Independent
FBT prepares for ‘Sleeping Beauty’
2011
Orange County Register
‘Firebird’ gets a new look in Costa Mesa
Daily Pilot
‘The Firebird’ soars into O.C.
Pointe Magazine Online
ABT’s Jamie Kopit Comes Home for Firebird
Huntington Beach Independent
Making a difference on the dance floor
Orange County Register
Up-close ballet inspires, amazes schoolkids
Huntington Beach Independent
World View: Enchanted by ‘Nutcracker’
Orange County Register
‘The Nutcracker’ casts more than 100 O.C.-area kids
Bucket List Publications
Visions of Sugar Plums – The Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker
Performing Arts Live
The Nutcracker – Festival Ballet Theatre
Rancho Santa Margarita Patch
Festival Ballet Theatre of Fountain Valley’s Production of The Nutcracker Set to Open Saturday
Pointe Magazine
Your Training: The Hometown Advantage
ConcertoNet.com
A Colorful Evening with Carreno
Orange County Register
O.C. dancer Quenby Hersh returns as a star
Ballet News
Cupcakes & Conversation with Quenby Hersh, Coryphée, Scottish Ballet
Fountain Valley Patch
Festival Ballet Theatre Announces Company Dancers for 2011-12 Season
Pelican Hill Magazine
The Ballet Project
2010
Los Angeles Times
Dancing as Clara in ‘Nutcracker’ is a Fantasy Come to Life
Orange County Register
North Tustin Teen Plays Lead in Nutcracker
Daily Pilot
1910 Ballet Born Again | The Firebird
OC Register Arts Blog
Kirov Director to teach Master Classes in Orange County
2009
Laguna Journal
Pacific Symphony schedules December spectacular
Laguna Journal
ABT stars descend onto the Irvine Barclay Stage in Festival Ballet Theater’s Production of
‘The Nutcracker’ December 11 – 24
OC Register
Local arts groups hope holiday gift keeps on giving
OCNewsChannel.com
OC Weekend Pics
OC Register – The Arts Blog
Kirov director is working this week in O.C.
Ballet-Dance Magazine
Festival Ballet Theatre ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
Orange County Register
OC Teen Comes Home to Perform Sleeping Beauty
Huntington Beach Independent
Sleeping Beauty to take Irvine Barclay stage
California Dance Network
Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Sleeping Beauty
The Laguna Journal Newspaper
Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Sleeping Beauty
Los Angeles Times Entertainment
Festival Ballet Happy Birthday
2008
Orange County Register
Festival Ballet Theatre – The Nutcracker
Orange County Register
Festival Ballet Grows as it Matures
Ballet-Dance Magazine
Festival Ballet Theatre | 20th Anniversary Gala
by Kathy Lee Scott
Ballet-Dance Magazine
Festival Ballet Theatre | Swan Lake
Real Orange
Festival Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla makes a
special appearance on KOCE’s Real Orange.
Orange County Performing Arts Center – Art’s Teach
Festival Ballet Theatre
OC Register
A Dancing Party
Los Angeles Times
Dancing stars come together at Irvine Barclay Theatre
Orange County Register
How Charity Works