El Paso’s holiday ballet is keeping it in the family this weekend. Siblings Irelyn and Bradley Yoshawirja are sharing the spotlight in El Paso Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker at UTEP’s Magoffin Auditorium, with Irelyn stepping into Clara’s slippers and Bradley taking on the role of Fritz. The run opens Friday, Dec. 5 and continues through Sunday with both matinee and evening shows, pairing community-trained children with company dancers amid glittering costumes and large-scale sets that help make The Nutcracker a go-to family tradition every December.
Siblings' Story
The Yoshawirjas have been in local studios since they were toddlers, after their mother first signed them up for classes. Over the years, they climbed the company ranks together to land these featured roles. “The siblings are naturally funny together and comfortable with each other,” their mother told the El Paso Times, a dynamic that gives this year’s staging an especially homegrown feel for local audiences.
Showtimes and Tickets
Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5; 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6; and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at UTEP's Magoffin Auditorium, according to the venue calendar at the UTEP Office of Special Events. Tickets are available through the host venue and ticketing platforms; check Ticketmaster or the UTEP box office for current availability and pricing.
Cast and Production
The production leans heavily on local talent, with children drawn from El Paso Ballet Theatre’s school sharing the stage with company members. It also features a visiting artist from the National Ballet of Mexico, as reported by the El Paso Times. El Paso Ballet Theatre highlights this staging’s “colorful costumes, beautiful sets, and innovative special effects,” a mix that aims to give the show both neighbourhood pride and full-on theatrical polish.
Local Talent And Training
Irelyn and Bradley are part of a wider web of young El Paso artists. Bradley has also been recognized in area music competitions and has accompanied company classes, reflecting the kind of cross-training that is common among up-and-coming performers. The El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future lists him among participants in regional competitions, pointing to the family’s broader musical involvement. Their turns in leading roles this weekend cap years of lessons, recitals and community productions.
Performances run Friday through Sunday at UTEP’s Magoffin Auditorium and are billed as family-friendly. For tickets and the most up-to-date details, audiences are directed to the venue’s event page or the ballet company’s season announcements.
