Living Ahwatukee

The Arizona Nutcracker stands as a prime example of how community-driven arts initiatives can prosper with dedicated leadership and broad participation. For 26 years, this holiday tradition has grown from its Ahwatukee origins to become a Valley-wide celebration of youth talent and artistic expression. Under the guidance of producer Kimberly Lewis, owner of Dance Studio 111, this production has created a unique space in the performing arts by exclusively casting children and teens in all roles, offering young dancers invaluable stage experience that might otherwise be inaccessible to them.

Building Relationships With Community Organizations and Dance Studios

The Arizona Nutcracker has pioneered a distinctive approach to engaging with local arts by creating a production that exclusively showcases young performers. Unlike traditional Nutcracker productions that feature professional adult dancers in lead roles, this production casts only children and teens from across the Phoenix metropolitan area. This inclusive casting philosophy has fostered deep relationships with dance studios throughout the Valley, as evidenced by the diverse backgrounds of performers like Artistic Director Madi Nash, who began her Nutcracker journey at age 8 and continued through high school before stepping into a leadership role.

By bringing together young dancers from various communities and studios, the Arizona Nutcracker has cultivated a supportive dance environment that exceeds neighborhood boundaries. The production serves as a unifying force, allowing students from different training backgrounds to collaborate and learn from one another. This exchange of talent and ideas strengthens the entire dance community while providing performance opportunities that might otherwise be limited to a select few. The rebranding from “Ahwatukee Nutcracker” to “Arizona Nutcracker” several years ago reflects this commitment to Valley-wide inclusion and community building through the performing arts.

Creating Meaningful Performance Experiences

The Arizona Nutcracker exemplifies how meaningful performance experiences can inspire long-term arts participation across generations. The production’s current artistic leadership demonstrates this powerful continuity, with Madi Nash progressing from an 8-year-old performer to Artistic Director. Similarly, the 2025 production features three graduating seniors—Mikaylee Bellino, Taylor Carey, and Kiki Reyes—who have “grown up performing in the Arizona Nutcracker,” according to Lewis. These dancers represent the fulfillment of the program’s promise: providing performance opportunities that nurture artistic growth from childhood through adolescence and into artistic leadership.

The multi-generational impact extends beyond the dancers to include their families, creating enduring bonds through shared artistic experiences. Choreographer Ashley Jerger embodies this family connection, describing the experience of sharing the stage with her son Caden as “one of the most wonderful and special memories I’ve had in my whole life.” As Caden continues his third year portraying Fritz, beginning the role at just age 7, we witness how the Arizona Nutcracker creates opportunities for families to participate in the arts together. These shared experiences establish traditions that participants carry forward, fostering a legacy of arts engagement that strengthens community ties and ensures the sustainability of local performing arts for future generations.