The Nutcracker

Have you ever been for a ballet show? Last year around christmas time I went for my first ballet show which was George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. It was perhaps the most beautiful show I have ever been to.

The Nutcracker is about a family celebrating Christmas with friends and the magical journey of one little girl. The magical journey is truly magical even for the audience. The stage design, the performance and costume are all brilliantly designed. The ballerinas dance to Tschaikovsky’s beloved melodies.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was first written as a fairy tale in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman intended for adults only. Later Alexander Dumas père’s made his own version which was happy and child-friendly.

‌“George Balanchine, who grew up in Russia, danced the role of the Prince in The Nutcracker in 1919 when he was 15 years old. Later, after he had moved to America and founded the New York City Ballet, he decided to choreograph his own version of The Nutcracker for his company. The first performance of this production was on February 2, 1954, in New York City, and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ has been an annual holiday tradition ever since.”

Photos courtesy The New York City Ballet website.