Kadia Zhou (9) | STAFF REPORTER
The Nutcracker, a two-act classical ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is one of the most cherished holiday traditions worldwide. It is beloved for its magical storytelling, Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score, and the ability to evolve and adapt across generations of performers.
The story of The Nutcracker is loosely based on the fantasy story of The Nutcracker and The Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman, with slight modifications. The story begins on Christmas Eve, and it follows the journey of a young girl, Clara, who receives a Nutcracker doll as a present. As the evening comes, reality and dreams combine, and Clara and her Nutcracker go on an adventure filled with mischievousness and magic.
Premiering in December 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, the ballet’s initial reception was mixed. Slowly, it gained recognition, especially through the widespread success of The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, which was a concert version featuring iconic pieces like “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Waltz of the Flowers”.
The ballet’s comeback began in the mid-20th century, especially with George Balanchine’s 1954 production for the New York City Ballet. Balanchine, named the “Father of American Ballet”, emphasized the whimsical and childlike parts of The Nutcracker’s story, making it an icon of holiday traditions in not only the United States, but also over to Canada as well. His adaptation also set a template for modern productions in ballet companies everywhere around the world, which often incorporate local cultural influences or imaginative twists to make their narratives unique to themselves.
If you are interested in seeing The Nutcracker in person yourself, The National Ballet of Canada is performing their adaptation of the production through December 6 – 31, 2024, with a running time of 2 hours at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. If you can’t experience the magic firsthand, you can always look at videos of past performances of different ballet companies as well. After all, it isn’t Christmas without The Nutcracker!
