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Dance

The Nutcracker Tickets

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Rating: 4.3 out of 5 based on 4209 reviews

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The Nutcracker On Tour

Every adaptation of The Nutcracker is the same, yet each The Nutcracker is different from all others. Although it premiered in Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre on December 18, 1892, composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker wouldn't become the dependably magical holiday-season reaffirmation of Christmas joy we know and love until decades later.

Marius Petipa, who commissioned Tchaikovsky's music, and Lev Ivanov originally choreographed the world's most popular ballet. It was loosely based on Alexandre Dumas' The Story of a Nutcracker, the French writer's adaptation of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which was a fantastical story by German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. Mourning the recent death of his sister, Tchaikovsky was often unhappy while composing the work, which he nonetheless imbued with some of his most enduringly gorgeous music. (The descending melody in the adagio section of the "Grand Pas de Deux" is said to reflect his feelings.)

Russian ballet was flourishing at the time The Nutcracker debuted, and no expense was spared. In Petipa's production, 60 snowflakes wore long white tutus and matching crowns adorned with fluff balls. The battle scene's soldiers, meanwhile, were recruited from a military academy rather than ballet school, leading to a less-than-elegant confrontation.

The Nutcracker was fated to become more popular abroad than in its birthplace, and was subsequently tailored to suit its new audiences. Encouraged by local Russian émigrés, Willam Christensen mounted the first full American production in San Francisco in 1944. Ten years later, George Balanchine choreographed a landmark version for the New York City Ballet, imbuing it with what Nutcracker Nation author Jennifer Fisher calls its "familial feeling." Balanchine's version was broadcast on national television a few years later with narration by June Lockhart (of Lassie fame).

While nearly every subsequent version of The Nutcracker contains falling snow, fighting mice, dancing candy, and a growing tree (asked to produce it without the tree, Balanchine reportedly replied, "No, the ballet is the tree"), some intriguing mutations have emerged. These include Nutcrackers on ice, the animated adaptation Walt Disney included in the 1940 movie Fantasia, and The Harlem Nutcracker, a swinging jazz revision by choreographer Donald Byrd. 

A remarkably resilient blend of complex classical ballet, popular imagery, and holiday nostalgia, The Nutcracker has taken on a life of its own since it first appeared one cold Russian winter over 100 years ago.

Reviews

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 based on 4209 reviews
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  • The 2023 Nutcracker

    by TinaMarie on 12/6/23Broome County Forum Theatre - BinghamtonRating: 4 out of 5

    Lovely rendition of the Nutcracker. Main characters were wonderful. The Syracuse company was my favorite. But this smaller company did a great job.

  • decent experience

    by Mitch on 12/6/23Joan C Edwards Performing Arts Center - HuntingtonRating: 2 out of 5

    I actually thought the Nutcracker would be performed by a professional ballet group but instead it was a local dance studio and a room full of their parents, grandparents, and friends. It was ok but certainly not at the level I was expecting!

  • 100% worth it

    by Lilly on 12/6/23UTEP Magoffin Auditorium - El PasoRating: 5 out of 5

    The show was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to go back next year

  • Experience of a Life

    by Jfranz on 12/6/23Memorial Auditorium - Wichita FallsRating: 5 out of 5

    The entire show was amazing. I took my wife there as a surprise and she was not disappointed for a moment! Great job!

  • Very well done performance

    by Gramps on 12/5/23Memorial Auditorium - Wichita FallsRating: 5 out of 5

    Went because I had 3 grandchildren performing. For a smaller town, the Wichita Falls ballet group and the symphony orchestra did an excellent job. Lots of local talent.

  • great performance

    by Lynn on 12/5/23Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    Loved every minute. I appreciate that the Neglia Ballet pulls local young talent into a professional ballet. The story and dancing is always a treat.

  • Spectacular performance

    by James on 12/5/23Memorial Auditorium - Wichita FallsRating: 5 out of 5

    I really enjoyed the performance! Best yet!!! I would watch it again!

  • Entertaining

    by Alex on 12/5/23UTEP Magoffin Auditorium - El PasoRating: 5 out of 5

    I have never been to a ballet and decided to take my daughter for the first time. I was surprised how much we enjoyed the nutcracker. I would definitely go back. The music and dancing was great.

  • Christmas nutcracker

    by Sassy on 12/5/23Memorial Auditorium - Wichita FallsRating: 5 out of 5

    It was a wonderful ballet/orchestra concert. The music was inspiring and the ballet was great !

  • Thank you Marta

    by Stephatm on 12/5/23UTEP Magoffin Auditorium - El PasoRating: 5 out of 5

    Such a wonder-filled experience for young 1st timers... Ballet forever!

  • Stunning show!

    by I ❤️ ballet in Buffalo on 12/5/23Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    What a stunning show! It definitely kicks off the Christmas season perfectly and gets me in the spirit. So fun to see Sheas beautifully decorated too and all the children in the audience dressed up for the holidays. Neglia and the BPO were spectacular.

  • Didn't realize it was a school play

    by Am on 12/5/23UTEP Magoffin Auditorium - El PasoRating: 1 out of 5

    The grown men lacking cod pieces, you could see the details of their private parts, and they were dancing next to children. Horrifying and gross.

  • Perfect

    by vet on 12/5/23Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 5 out of 5

    The dancers was outstanding I'm glad I didn't miss it

  • Messy

    by Mrs S on 12/5/23Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 2 out of 5

    It wasn’t worth it, I felt like I was watching a children’s recital

  • Amazing!

    by Sarah on 12/5/23Joan C Edwards Performing Arts Center - HuntingtonRating: 5 out of 5

    I had so much fun and the whole production did very well!!

  • NOT the most spectacular

    by Nonnie on 12/5/23Shea's Performing Arts Center - BuffaloRating: 3 out of 5

    The performance varied to far from the original - Girls name is Clara NOT Marie - and it just ended NOOO Snow Queen or sleigh - scenery for land of sweets was awful - dancing was superb - BPO was spirited but seemed to be lacking alot of the storyline- worth $85 ??? - NOT really -

  • Nutcracker

    by Beck on 12/4/23Memorial Auditorium - Wichita FallsRating: 5 out of 5

    The Nutcracker is undeniably a holiday favorite, especially for first time goers. All in all a delightful treat for the whole family!

  • Show great, could do without continuous munching noises

    by Mark on 12/4/23UTEP Magoffin Auditorium - El PasoRating: 4 out of 5

    The show was fun and entertaining, although not sure why the venue needed to sell popcorn and nachos at the ballet. We were in the front, not cheap seats and surrounded by what sounded like a pack of ravenous wolves smacking their lips and slurping sounds emanating from their mouths, somewhat ruining the performance.

  • A fairly big disappointment.

    by Jofeen on 12/3/23Music Hall Center - DetroitRating: 3 out of 5

    I didn't expect the high caliber quality of the traditional nutcracker that I saw in New York City, but I thought it would be better than it was. The set/scenery was great and the costumes were also very good. The principal dancers, as well as a few of the supporting performers were excellent. But there were many that were obviously out of time and step. The sugar plum fairies DIDNT dance to "the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies!"They dance to"Waltz of the Flowers."The very biggest disappointment was that there was NO ORCHESTRA AND NO PROGRAM. The record skipped once or twice and the audience had no information about the dancers or other credits, and couldn't follow along with the show. I wait all year to see The Nutcracker and I couldn't help but feel let down.

  • Great Presentation

    by Princess on 12/2/23Music Hall Center - DetroitRating: 5 out of 5

    Costumes were beautiful, performance was wonderful.