One Christmas, my older brother and I got into an old-fashioned sibling argument because I wanted to see our local ballet company perform The Nutcracker . My brother argued that he couldn’t follow the plot of The Nutcracker past Act One. I explained that there basically *isn’t* a plot past Act One. (And in a […]
Trick or treating is done, the jack-o-lanterns are all thrown out, and we *should* be right in the peak of Nutcracker rehearsal season. But for dancers still dealing with (sadly necessary) COVID-19 restrictions on rehearsals and performances, a year without the Nutcracker can seem less than sweet. But we at Dance Spirit will always find […]
Maki Onuki has been with The Washington Ballet for a remarkable 14 seasons. She’s danced lead roles in almost every ballet in the company’s repertoire, from Serenade to Giselle, Swan Lake to Don Quixote, Le Corsaire to La Sylphide. This fall, Onuki was in rehearsal for TWB’s fall program, NEXTsteps, set to originate a role […]
For any young dancer performing in The Nutcracker, Marie (aka Clara, depending on the production) is a dream role. But Charlotte Nebres, who will be playing Marie in New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker this year isn’t just bringing her own dream to life—she’s also making history. Charlotte is the first black dancer to ever perform […]
As December 2018 is finally winding down, you’ve probably had “Waltz of the Flowers” stuck in your head since October—at least. If just reading that sentence made you want to scream, you’re welcome to stop reading here. (And we really are sorry that it’s stuck in your head for the umpteenth time now.) We’re actually […]
If there’s one thing that’s better than witnessing The Nutcracker from the audience, it’s getting an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into the production. Luckily, Pacific Northwest Ballet agrees with this sentiment—the company just released an amazing video offering a peek backstage. Led by PNB dancer Elle Macy (who was preparing to dance […]
The Nutcracker has become an essential part of the holiday season—not to mention a part of most dancers’ DNA. These days, the ballet is a beloved tradition, and the lifeblood of many dance companies, whose budgets depend on its reliably great ticket sales. But did you know that it was a flop when it first […]
Nutcracker season is upon us, guys, and the time has come for never-ending rehearsals and like 10 shows a day. So sure, there’s a lot of emphasis on all the negative aspects of performing in the show and how to survive this nutty season, but let’s be real: There’s also a ton of REALLY fun […]