Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk left Christmas revelers stunned after making a surprise cameo in a theater performance of The Nutcracker last weekend.
The 57-year-old took to the stage at San Diego’s Civic Theatre on Saturday night during a one-night-only performance with the Golden State Ballet.
Dressed in a mix of traditional ballet attire and elbow pads, the legendary athlete integrated high-flying board tricks into the classic holiday choreography.
Hawk later revealed to his fans on Instagram that the unusual career move was inspired by his 17-year-old daughter, Kady.
‘Sometimes you just have to say yes to things WAY outside your comfort zone. especially when your daughter thinks is funny’ Hawk said on social media.
Explaining how the bizarre crossover came about, he also wrote: ‘I was invited to do a ‘cameo’ in @goldenstateballet’s Nutcracker performance in San Diego.
Tony Hawk made a surprise cameo in a theater performance of The Nutcracker on Saturday
The skateboarding icon, dressed in full costume, launched off of a quarter pipe in the show
Hawk, 57, was joined by budding young skater Katelyn West, 15, during his performance
‘Thanks to @rampcarnies for saving the day with this last-minute quarterpipe build, saving @sk8tlynwest and I from [potentially] the worst freestyle demo ever.’
In footage which Hawk shared onto his Instagram, the 57-year-old was seen skating across the stage in a newsboy hat and scarf while pursued by a police officer.
He then returned in Act II, wearing a tunic and baggy red pants, where he launched off of a quarter pipe, much to the delight of the audience at the Civic Theatre.
The skateboarding icon was joined by young skater Katelyn West and a trio of dancers as he glided across the stage on his board.
The ballet company hailed the performance as a ‘collision’ of two worlds and revealed that 2,300 audience members witnessed the shock crossover.
Meanwhile, in a statement obtained by the Los Angeles Times and NBC San Diego-7, artistic director Raúl Salamanca said: ‘We’re thrilled to welcome him to our stage!’
‘Tony’s participation celebrates what makes San Diego special – a community where a skateboarding legend and a ballet company can come together to create something memorable’.
Just two days after Hawk’s appearance, Golden State Ballet shared a recap of the evening’s antics and insisted it ‘will be memory that will live on for years to come’.
2,300 audience members were left stunned by Hawk’s surprise cameo on Saturday
Hawk and West ride the quarter pipe while a trio of dancers took center stage in San Diego
Golden State Ballet said Hawk ‘brought people together across generations and communities’
The veteran and the youngster were seen practicing the routine in the days leading up
‘Tony Hawk brought people together across generations and communities,’ they said.
‘This will be a memory that will live on for years to come. This is why we do what we do. The performing arts thrive when we dare to innovate, when we invite new audiences in, and when we bridge worlds that might not normally meet.
‘By honoring tradition while embracing bold ideas, we keep ballet alive, relevant, and accessible. This is how we save the performing arts’.
Meanwhile, Golden State Ballet concluded its run of the holiday classic on Sunday, December 21.
