NYC Ballet Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is something that always comes at Christmas. I remember loving the music as a kid. We went to see this production with my cousin and her beau. He had never seen a ballet and Aaron didn't like ABT's version a couple years back. We weren't starting off good. Lo and behold, what a great production. Balanchine's choreography was so much better than ABT. The snowflake waltz was magnificent. SO much fake snow was on the stage. I know many people don't think about how hard it is for the ballerinas. The kids were great, though we should always remember that the Nutcracker is heavily for kids. The first act is almost ALL children's choreography. 

 These seats were an experiment. We sat in the 4th ring. We were WAY up there. We could see, but you couldn't really see any facial expressions. Lucky for us, ballet acting is always over the top.  I always forget to bring my opera glasses. I don't think I'd buy seats up there again. Aaron even mentioned that the 5th ring (side seats) would be better because they're closer and they are lower in the theater than our seats were.

I appreciated that NYC Ballet had Clara (or Marie as she was listed in the playbill) not be on pointe. If she's on pointe, it means she's around 15 years old and honestly, the love for a doll at that age is just not accepted in our society. It is much more endearing and believable from a little 10 year old girl.