KING CITY — King City will have another colorful mural to add to the five already adorning walls along the Broadway corridor, according to Teri Storelli, president of the nonprofit Monterey County Dance Foundation.
The mural will appear on the northern wall of the Monterey County Dance Theatre (MCDT) studio, located on the northwest corner of Bassett Street and Vanderhurst Avenue, and will be visible to shoppers and visitors in the Broadway area.
“The theme of the mural is ‘The Nutcracker Ballet,’” explained Storelli, citing the legacy of the local production. “The first presentation took place in the old El Camino Hotel in 1959, which makes it one of the longest running ‘Nutcracker’ ballets in the country.”
That original production was presented by The Pauline Hall Dancers, founded in 1958.
“After nearly two years of pandemic restrictions, the 62nd anniversary production will return to live production, making the mural a timely addition to the city and the legacy of the production,” said MCDT Artistic Director Janette Harkness, daughter of founder Pauline Hall. “I’m excited along with my dancers at this wonderful addition to our studio, especially one with such historic significance to South County.”
Acting as lead organizer of the mural is Monterey County Dance Foundation member Allie Cullen, who has enlisted local talent for the project.
“The work will be done by lead artist Gloria Sanchez,” Cullen said. “She is a local Hartnell student who has worked with Jennifer Beebe-Hargrove on past murals here in King City, so she has a real feel for how this mural will complement the downtown area.”
The dimensions of the mural are yet to be determined, according to artist Sanchez.
“The mural will be situated above the pedestrian door to get the most wall use,” Sanchez noted. “This way, vehicles parked in the area won’t block the view.”
The sketching and coloring of the mural took Sanchez four months, and she expects work to begin in April.
“After the first of the year, we will recruit assistants and plan for work during Spring Break,” Sanchez said. “I would like to have the work completed in two weeks, but some of the detail work may extend the time a week or two.”
“The Nutcracker Ballet” mural will not only be another added attraction to the downtown corridor, but it is also a fundraiser for the Monterey County Dance Foundation. Those who have performed in past productions and parents of dancers may add their names to a dramatis personae scroll, aptly held by founder Pauline Hall.
For more information about the mural, contact Teri Storelli or Allie Cullen at the Monterey County Dance Foundation.
