The Nutcracker Ballet at Academy of Music

It’s time for big traditions and even bigger spectacles! This holiday season brings some exciting developments, one of which is Pennsylvania’s most beloved ballet showcase, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker! This esteemed performance has been a long tradition among Philadelphia’s most enthusiastic ballet fanatics! This year promises to be bigger, more astounding and mindblowing than ever! For the month of December, Philadelphia ballet, the city’s most accomplished and talented ballet ensemble, brings forth a staggering production packed with groundbreaking visuals, music, and most of all mighty talented dancers! Enthralling stage sets, exquisite costumes, and state-of-the-art sound and light technology! We don’t need to tell you that Philadelphia ballet is pulling out all the stops for this one! So hurry and catch one (or two) of the over 30 stunning performances that Philadelphia Ballet will be delivering this December! Click on the Get Tickets link to easily select your preferred dates!

Nut Cracker Ballet Tickets:

“The production looks better than ever” – Culture Vulture

Another year is about to close but not before Philadelphia Ballet delivers its most spectacular holiday bonanza! December comes knocking with 31 groundbreaking showcases of the timeless The Nutcracker! This astounding repertoire features the fantastic choreography by the legendary George Balanchine. This holiday season, Philadelphia Ballet pays tribute to the godfather of ballet by bringing his incredible work to life. This is not a modern retelling of the time-honour ballet tradition, but a beloved rendition that will stay true to the signature Balanchine choreography! Seeing one of the most legendary masterpieces conquer the big stage, at the Academy of Music, is surely a fantastic opportunity and it won’t be easy to come by! So don’t let this chance pass by securing your access as early as now!

George Balanchine

This year’s tradition brings legends to life. George Balanchine has been a magnificent force in the ballet circuit and his work has changed the industry immensely. He’s also one of the greatest choreographers of all time. His work with The Nutcracker has been recreated by countless ballet companies across the world. He’s most regarded for being the first choreogrpaher to bring the Russian classical ballet to North America. Some of the most esteemed ensembles have paid homage to the iconic work, going as far as performing every move, every detail right down to a T. This December, Philadelphia Ballet brings Balanchine’s choreography to life as they deliver George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to ballet fans in Pennsylvania. In conjunction with Balanchine’s work, the showcase also features the legendary music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It’s truly a testament to the amazing work that has been enjoyed by millions of people across decades.

“Much more than a heartwarming holiday tradition” – PHINDIE

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker continues to pay homage to the original plot but the choreography is definitely an amazing rendition from the original libretto by Marius Petipa. First performed in 1954 in New York, Balanchine’s The Nutcracker has been covered many times. It also has a film and two TV versions. The showcase continues to tell the story of Clara/ Marie who takes a liking to the Nutckracer, a toy brought by her godfather, the Drosselmeyer. The toy gets broken in the middle of the chaos in Clara/Marie’s house, but thankfully the Nutcracker was quickly mended. When everyone was already asleep, the young girl checked on her toy but when the clock struck midnight, the whole room turned into a chaotic war zone with thousands of mice led by the mouse king attacking the Nutcracker and his soldiers – except the Nutcrakcer had turned into a lifesized! See this spectacle packed with superb artistry, breathtaking choreography, intricate costumes, and more importantly, an ensemble of ultra ballerinas and danseurs. 

Executed by the esteemed Philadelphia Ballet, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at Academy of Music is surefire to bring top talents to the stage. The ballet company has been serving powerful performances since 1968. Led by artistic director Angel Corella, the ensemble includes 11 highly talented principal dancers and 46 incredible performers as soloists, corps de ballet, andapprentices. Together, the group will work with assistant director Samantha Dunster,  ballet master Charles Askegard, and resident choreographer Juliano Nunes. 

“Full of warmth and holiday cheer” – Kennedy Center

Over the years, Philadelphia Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcrackers has garnered great reviews from critics. Broad Street Review published, “The Nutcracker is chock full of gasp-worthy moments that stay with us forever.” The review continued, “Audiences wait for the great tree to rise to its full height and recognize the first notes of the celesta for the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center shared, “The dancers of Philadelphia Ballet pour their hearts and souls into these classic pas de deuxs and iconic divertissements they have danced hundreds and hundreds of times, bringing greater warmth and an extra emotional impact, allowing us to experience The Nutcracker with fresh eyes.” Written by Jane Raleigh, director of dance programming, the review continued that the show was full of warmth and holiday cheer.

PHINDIE added, “The year-end playbill proved how far the company has come after being exposed to numerous opportunities with diverse choreographers and various styles of ballet both classical and modern.” The writer Eri Yoneda also shared, “Pennsylvania Ballet’s Nutcracker is much more than a heartwarming holiday tradition.”

“Beloved and magical” – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Besides bringing a fantastically produced showcase, Philadelphia Ballet brings the beloved George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to the state-of-the-art entertainment destination, the Academy of Music. This venue is a breathtaking facility with a ground concert hall/opera house adorned by American baroque revival architecture. When you walk into the concert hall, you’ll be taken away immediately by its grand chandelier. Exquisite murals also surround this unique venue – making a visit to the Academy of Music quite an exhilarating experience. 

Expect a fantastic ambiance and trailblazing audio and lights when you catch George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the Academy of Muisc. This lovely spectacle is sure to blow you away with the show’s immense artistry and out of this world talent. Every year, the ensemble is challenged with incredible choreographies – with some modern elements combinaed with Balanchine’s classical works. Philadelphia Ballet is one of the few ballet companies licensed to perform Balanchine’s  superb showdown

Hurry and secure your access now and catch Philadelphia Ballet’s take on George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker! The showcase at the Academy of Music will surely lift your Christmas spirit! It’s the perfect spectacle to check out for the holiday season and it’s open to ages 4 and up! So you can definitely bring your entire family!