Tag: nutcracker

NYCB's Georgina Pazcoguin on Her New Initiative to Eliminate Asian Stereotypes in Ballet

As conversations in the ballet world about race and representation have opened up in the past few years, its most beloved holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, has come under scrutiny as well. Last year New York City Ballet made changes to its second act Chinese Tea variation, removing elements of racial caricature from both the costume […]

World Famous Hippo, Fiona, to Join the Cast of Cincinnati Ballet's "Nutcracker"

Yesterday Cincinnati Ballet announced an exciting addition to this year’s Nutcracker cast: a character based on Fiona, the world’s most famous hippopotamus. Fiona was born at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in January 2017. Six weeks premature, she weighed only 29 pounds at birth as opposed to the standard 55-120, and required round-the-clock care […]

4 Nontraditional Versions of The Nutcracker

Debbie Allen’s The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker (2010) fuses ballet with tap, flamenco, hip hop and gymnastics in fantastical settings such as Candy Cane Land, Jazzland and the Land of the Kimono Dolls. The Hip Hop Nutcracker (2014) is set in New York City and juxtaposes Tchaikovsky’s classical score with hip-hop choreography created by Jennifer Weber, […]

What My Teacher Taught Me: Monica Giragosian

When Monica Giragosian received one of her first leading roles with American Repertory Ballet, director Douglas Martin reminded her of the importance of basic technique. “My second season, I had the opportunity to perform Juliet in Douglas’ original production of Romeo and Juliet. He stressed the importance of me taking pointe classes to be lighter […]

'Tis the Season for The Nutcracker

The holidays are here and in the dance world, that typically means one thing: Nutcracker season! As a former bunhead, I’d be remiss not to give a shout-out to some of the Nutcracker productions we all know and love. Houston Ballet’s Jared Matthews and Karina Gonzalez dance the Sugar Plum Fairy pas de deux. 10 Nutcrackers That Rock George […]

This Nutcracker Is for the Dogs

Cherubs bond with Afghan hounds during a rehearsal. Every year, we hear about some eyebrow-raising twists on the classic holiday ballet, like this video, featuring BMX bikers performing—on bicycles—onstage with the Sugarplum Fairy. There are infinite ways to make your Nutcracker unique! But the holiday production that stole our heart this year is on the furrier side. In […]