ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Zoika’s Dance will present its sixth annual production of “Christmas FANTASTIQUE” on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at Lewis Auditorium in St. Augustine. The show is an original adaptation of the classic holiday story “The Nutcracker.”
Director Zoika Garcia has assembled a cast of 78 performers, featuring professional dancers, magicians and local student dancers. The production blends traditional ballet with contemporary dance styles, including tap, hip hop, jazz, contemporary and acro dance.
12-year-old dancer Aleryn Ward portrays Clara, the protagonist of the story, alongside 14-year-old Emmett Kelly as the Nutcracker Prince. Local student Elena Bagnato dances the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and José Fuentes performs as the Mouse King.
Sean Mansfield, a professional dancer with the group Noise Complaint, steps into the role of Clara’s Uncle Drosselmeyer, incorporating magic into the performance. Fellow professional dancers from Noise Complaint joining the production include Jenne Vermes as Spanish Tap Lead, Alex Rubio and Christie Woodson.
Through community sponsorship, Zoika’s Dance will provide complimentary tickets to local children served by several St. Johns County nonprofit organizations. Participating groups include St. Augustine Youth Services, the Betty Griffin House, Fostering Connections and Alpha and Omega Miracle Home.
Zoika Garcia, director of Christmas FANTASTIQUE and Zoika’s Dance, spoke about the impact of the outreach initiative. “Sharing dance with the community gives us so much joy,” Garcia said. “And sharing this holiday experience with children who might not otherwise be able to attend makes it so much sweeter!”Tickets for the production range in price from $23 to $38 and are available for purchase online through the organization’s website.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Lewis Auditorium, located at 14 Granada St. in St. Augustine.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.