George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker opened at the New York City Ballet on November 28, 2025. This production features Tchaikovsky’s score and choreography based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It remains a cornerstone of the company’s repertory, known for its intricate sets, costumes, and large-scale technical elements.
The performance involves a massive collaborative effort including ninety dancers, sixty-two musicians, and over one hundred children from the School of American Ballet. Key visual highlights include a forty-foot growing Christmas tree and detailed costumes that bring the holiday-themed narrative to life for audiences of all ages.
I attended the opening night of George Balanchine’s *The Nutcracker* at the New York City Ballet (NYCB) on November 28, 2025. Evoking the delicate charm of confections come to life, the Sugarplum Fairy invites you to experience a world of magic and wonder. From the glow of the iconic 40-foot Christmas tree to the blustery gusts of swirling snow, this production features a cast of enchanting characters that have delighted audiences for generations.
During the holiday season, the entire company is dedicated to *The Nutcracker*. Each performance is brought to life by a collaborative force of 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands, and more than 125 children from the School of American Ballet. Audiences of all ages are captivated by Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, Balanchine’s masterful choreography, Karinska’s sumptuous costumes, and Rouben Ter-Arutunian’s magical sets. Based on the Alexandre Dumas père adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s *The Nutcracker and the Mouse King* (1816), George Balanchine’s *The Nutcracker* remains one of the most complex and unforgettable ballets in the company’s repertory.