Congratulations to 15-year old Angela Watson of Oakland, who closes her role as "Clara" in the Nutcracker this week for her second consecutive year.  It's the first time an African American has played the role for two years straight in the San Francisco Ballet's production of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker."

On opening weekend at San Francisco War Memorial Opera House, Angela starred in the role of "Clara" on the eve of the 125^th World Premiere of the Nutcracker at the Imperial Ballet, Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Wednesday, December 27th's performance will be one of her last as "Clara" that will include the Friday, December 29th performance.  She will be in the role of  a "Dragonfly" the last night of the production, November 30^th.

Thanks to instruction at Oakland School for the Arts School of Dance directed by Reginald Ray Savage and also the San Francisco Ballet School directed by Patrick Armand, Angela's poise and presence on stage demonstrates her present and future performance potential for roles in classics like Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet as well as modern ballets as "Revelations," "Triumph of St. Joan," and more.

Specific to the "Nutcracker," Angela has received instruction from ballet master and principal dancer Anita Paciotti marking her 50th Anniversary with the San Francisco Ballet. Paciotti's young charge's demure beauty coupled with her strength in the lyrical flowing execution of movement and strong work ethic makes the young Oakland resident a sight to behold.

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"Angela is a great student of not only dance but academics as well and what many have said is so endearing about her is Angela's willingness and heart to inspire younger dancers to know they can play 'Clara,' too, even at this young age, said Carolyn Evans Watson.  Watson, as a mother of twins Angela and her twin brother, Richard, an accomplished vocalist in the Vocal Music Department of the Oakland School for the Arts, has the delightful responsibility of keeping up with dual performance schedules intensified during the holiday season.

"Having performed as a youth at the War Memorial Opera House, I know from personal experience that Angela will be inspired for years," said Ricardo Scales, Bay Area based renowned Grammy-nominated piano virtuoso. "It is so great to see a teenager with such talent who also has a humble and giving heart."

Angela has been featured in some recent media:

Oakland Post

http://www.oaklandpost.org/tag/angels-watson/

In the Spirit of Christmas Misty Copeland Speaks with Laurene Powell Jobs & Pays It Forward "Giving Back"

http://www.wrightnow.biz/apps/articles/web/articleid/82939/default.asp 12/20/17

The Arts Uplift Hearts in San Francisco As the City Mourns Mayor Edwin Lee

http://www.wrightnow.biz/apps/articles/web/articleid/82936/columnid//default.asp 12/15/17

Angela can be seen in these upcoming performances:

As "Clara" December 27th at 2:00 p.m. & December 29th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Angela's Dragonfly performances are Christmas Eve 11 a.m.; December 28th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and final performance December 30th at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

For ticket information, visit the San Francisco Ballet at https://www.sfballet.org/ or the War Memorial Opera box office at http://warmemorialoperahouse.ticketoffices.com/