George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® stands as a pinnacle of theatrical ballet complexity within the Company’s repertoire. This beloved ballet is a cherished highlight of the holiday season for audiences worldwide.

Every performance is a grand collaboration, featuring 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands, and over 125 children from the esteemed School of American Ballet. Together, they weave a magical tapestry of Tschaikovsky’s enchanting music, Balanchine’s masterful choreography, Karinska’s lavish costumes, and Ter-Arutunian’s mesmerizing sets.

Audiences flock to the David H. Koch Theater from near and far, eagerly anticipating the captivating spectacle. Balanchine’s adaptation, rooted in Alexandre Dumas père’s version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale, demands a full-scale production, complete with elaborate stage elements and intricate lighting that ignite the imagination.

Among the marvels are the iconic one-ton Christmas tree, soaring from 12 to 41 feet, leaving audiences in awe. Equally impressive is the colossal figure of Mother Ginger, weighing 85 pounds and spanning nine feet, maneuvered by a team of three. And who could forget the ethereal snowflakes, meticulously crafted and conserved for each breathtaking performance?

Yet, amidst these technical marvels, it is Balanchine’s choreography that truly steals the show. Act I sets the stage, introducing the enchanting characters and laying the groundwork for the transition into fantasy with the mesmerizing Snowflake Waltz. Act II catapults us into the “Kingdom of the Sugarplum Fairy,” where reality fades, and magic reigns supreme.