Nevada Ballet Theatre dancer and Summerlin resident to premier work Feb. 22-23

Krista Baker, a dancer with Nevada Ballet Theatre and longtime resident of the master-planned community of Summerlin, is preparing to unveil her new choreographic work, “The Current,” during NBT’s upcoming performances Feb. 22-23 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

Baker, a Southern California native who began dancing as a child at her mother’s Anaheim studio, moved to Summerlin when she joined NBT at the age of 17 in 2005. Her decision to live in Summerlin was very intentional to be close to the Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center and home of Nevada Ballet Theatre, where the company takes class and rehearses daily. Baker first lived in an apartment, then moved into a small home in the community.

Today, she and husband, Jordan Mendoza, call The Paseos village home and consider themselves lucky to be surrounded by family. Baker’s parents live in nearby Mesa village, and her grandparents live in The Arbors village.

Baker and Mendoza, who met in a dance class years ago when Mendoza was exploring a possible theater major before going into technology, love their backyard view of Red Rock Canyon and appreciate the beauty of the community.

“Summerlin reminds me of Irvine and other upscale and well-planned communities in Southern California,” Baker said. “It feels intimate thanks to well-defined neighborhoods and village. And it’s comfortable and safe with lots of conveniences.”

While Baker maintains there is much to love about living in Summerlin, she said Downtown Summerlin is her favorite. “Lazy Dog is our favorite dining spot, and I love shopping at lululemon,” Baker said. “Even though I wear tights for a living, I can’t get enough lulu.”

Baker, who is grateful to live the Summerlin dream, is thrilled about her upcoming world premiere of “The Current.” Adding choreographer to her list of professional accomplishments is an exciting evolution of her career.

“Ballet and family are the two most important things in my life,” Baker said. “My life feels very complete here in Summerlin. I couldn’t imagine living or working anywhere else.”

Today, Summerlin offers more than 160 floor plans in 35 neighborhoods throughout nine distinct villages. Homes are available in a variety of styles, from single-family homes to town homes, priced from the low $300,000s to more than $1 million. For information on all selling neighborhoods, visit Summerlin.com.

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., Summerlin began to take shape in 1990 and has ranked in the country’s top 10 best-selling master-planned communities for nearly two decades.

Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with approximately 6,000 gross acres still remaining to accommodate growth, including infrastructure, open space and common areas, all within the master plan.

The community is home to nearly 100,000 residents who enjoy an unparalleled list of amenities. They include more than 250 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of trails, 27 public and private schools, 14 houses of worship, 10 golf courses, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, and business parks.

Homes are priced from the $300,000s to more than $2.5 million. For information on custom homesites in The Ridges, call 702-255-2500. Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s. Visit summerlin.com for more information.

The Howard Hughes Corp. owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. The assets include master-planned communities, operating properties, development opportunities and other unique assets spanning 14 states from New York to Hawaii.

The Howard Hughes Corp. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC with major offices in New York; Columbia, Md.; Dallas; Houston; Las Vegas and Honolulu. For additional information about HHC, visit www.howardhughes.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.