Miami City Ballet Principals Reflect on The Nutcracker, Mental Health, and Community Ahead of Holiday Performances
- camilarosiaz
- Dec 23, 2025
- 2 min read
Miami City Ballet is preparing to welcome audiences this December with the return of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, accompanied by a special conversation with Principal Dancers Nathalia Arja and Samantha Hope Galler that explores ballet, mental health, and life inside one of the country’s leading dance companies.
The discussion, hosted by Ari Bliss on the Growth, Grace, Gratitude Podcast, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the personal journeys of two principal ballerinas whose careers have been shaped by the annual holiday production. The conversation examines how The Nutcracker introduces children to ballet, the evolving dialogue around mental health in dance, and the importance of balance and support systems beyond the studio.
For Samantha Hope Galler, now in her 12th season with Miami City Ballet, The Nutcracker represents a full-circle experience. Having grown up watching the ballet as a child, she now performs it for a new generation. She describes the production as a gift to young audiences, highlighting roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Dewdrop Fairy as iconic moments that dancers grow into over time while revisiting the same choreography year after year.
Nathalia Arja shared that The Nutcracker marked her first connection with Miami City Ballet, initially appearing as a Snowflake before formally joining the company. At just 16, she danced the Sugar Plum Fairy as an apprentice, partnering with her brother, former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer Renan Cerdeiro. For Arja, the ballet carries deep personal significance, blending family, heritage, and professional milestones. While the Sugar Plum Fairy is often seen as the pinnacle role, she notes that Dewdrop remains her favorite for its athleticism and energy.
The conversation also addresses broader topics within the dance world, including the pressures of professional performance, navigating social media, and the growing openness around mental health. Both dancers emphasize the importance of authenticity, community, and maintaining relationships outside of ballet as essential to long-term artistic sustainability.
Balanchine’s The Nutcracker will once again transform Miami into a holiday destination for families, featuring more than 100 dancers, a live orchestra, and elaborate sets that bring Tchaikovsky’s score to life. The production remains a cornerstone of Miami City Ballet’s season and a formative experience for both performers and audiences.
The full Q&A episode is available on Spotify. Tickets for December performances are available through Miami City Ballet’s official site.