Every holiday season, thousands of families are delighted by the magic and wonder of The Nutcracker. From Blake Lively to Solange Knowles, even celeb moms can’t get enough of ballet. Whether you’re looking for a live performance to catch those sugar plum fairies in person, or if you’d rather experience the pirouettes of The Nutcracker without leaving your house, we’ve got you covered for so many ways to take in this classic dance performance this festive holiday season. Wearing your own tulle ballerina skirt is optional, but most definitely encouraged.
Keep to the classic with the New York City Ballet.
The New York City Ballet has performed George Balanchine's The Nutcracker each holiday season for more than 65 years. Live in-person performances of the holiday classic have returned to the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center this year, so your little ones can see Clara up close and personal this Christmas. Performances are currently running and will continue through Dec. 31.
There’s also some stunning clips available to see on social media. In a dazzling Instagram post, the New York City Ballet shared a video of a beautiful waltz performance. “‘Each of the ballerinas dances Dewdrop differently. That was wonderful. That gave you the freedom: You didn’t have to be like somebody else,’ remembers former Principal Dancer Suki Schorer. ‘And that’s what Balanchine wanted — each one to be unique and bring their own flavor or perfume to the role. There I was, seeing all these varieties out there, the French flavor, the gorgeous flavor, the long Diana Adams legs for days, the delicateness of Allegra; everyone had their own magic touch. I hope I left my magic touch — or at least a touch,’” the New York City Ballet captioned the post.
Opt for a Hip-Hop influenced twist on this Christmas classic.
Even if you can’t make it to the actual streets of New York City, you can still catch a re-imagining of The Nutcracker that takes place on the vibrant streets of New York City with The Hip Hop Nutcracker. This “tradition with a twist” tells the story of Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince who venture to a magical holiday fantasy land with digital graffiti, visuals, and breakdancing toys.
A live production is currently touring with tickets available through Dec. 31. You can also catch the movie version of this timeless tale starring Rev Run as the narrator and featuring the late Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, available to watch now on Disney+.
Watch on a streaming service you already have.
Of course, it's also possible to find and watch a version of The Nutcracker on a number of different streaming services.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video subscribers can watch Nutcracker: The Motion Picture, a film adaptation produced and choreographed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Also available to rent or buy through Amazon Prime Video is the TV adaptation of Mikhail Baryshnikov's Nutcracker production, which features Gelsey Kirkland and the American Ballet Theatre.
Netflix
Kids who love dance may enjoy getting to see a peek at how productions come together with Netflix's Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, which centers around dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen's career and follows her and her dance students as they prepare for their annual production of Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.
Disney+
Fall into a fantasy-infused retelling of The Nutcracker starring Morgan Freeman as Drosselmeyer, Helen Mirren as Mother Ginger, Misty Copeland as the Ballerina, and Keira Knightly as the Sugar Plum Fairy with The Nutcracker and the Four Realms on Disney+.
HBO Max
For little ones who have a certain obsession with a red monster who lives at 123 Sesame Street, there’s even an animated movie starring Elmo and his best doggy buddy Tango (who can talk for the very first time!). So if you’ve been dying to hear what’s been going on in the inner-workings of Tango’s overactive mind, Sesame Street’s The Nutcracker is available to stream now on HBO Max.
No matter which version you watch, The Nutcracker can be a part of every family's holiday traditions. Flexibility and rhythm aren’t even required — just bring your love of dance!
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