Ballet Backers

We were deeply offended by the Nov. 2 critical review of “Dracula,” as performed by California Ballet. Like many others in the audience, we had a much better time than the reviewer did. What we saw was a well-danced, well-acted ballet version of a classic horror tale.

Let’s give the California Ballet and its director, Maxine Mahon, the attention and interest they deserve for their hard work in promoting ballet in San Diego, a community in which the arts have been all but eliminated from the public schools.

California Ballet has performed for 20 years without subsidies. The annual California Ballet production of “The Nutcracker” has become one of San Diego’s Christmas traditions.

We have a personal interest in the upcoming California Ballet production of “The Nutcracker”-- collectively, we are the parents of two soldiers, four bonbons and a boy in the “family scene” of their cast! Performing along with the adult dancers of the company exposes them to a professionalism that gives them the desire to excel. It adds an extra dimension to the training they receive in their dance classes.

PAMELA STEVENS, BETTY O’BEE,

PENNY HUISMAN

San Diego

MARILYN STEVENSON

Escondido