One of my favorite holiday traditions each year is going to see the Nutcracker ballet. Unfortunately, as with most things, this has not been possible. Many ballet companies have had to cancel their seasons and in extreme circumstances, have had to lay off dancers. The holiday season is typically the busiest time of the year for major companies. In the U.S. alone, Nutcracker performances provide half of the revenue for the ballet company’s season.
I thought in lieu of seeing an actual performance, I would link some of the available virtual performances available through the magic of the internet for you to enjoy. If anyone is interested in reading up on the history of how Nutcracker became a holiday classic, there is an excellent BBC article here.
New York City Ballet
Royal Ballet (Nutcracker in Rehearsal)
English National Ballet (Nutcracker Delights)
Russian State Ballet
Bolshoi Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
Joffrey Ballet (Trainee)
National Ballet of China
National Ballet of Cuba
Paris Opera Ballet
Australian Ballet