See Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
This Holiday Season With The Whole Family!
‘The Nutcracker’ wasn’t always a beloved ballet. Early critics liked only the music.
By Marylou Tousignant, Washington Post, December 2, 2019
The critics were not kind after the first performance of “The Nutcracker” ballet in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The battle scene was called clumsy, the costumes were described as dull, and the Sugar Plum Fairy was dissed as chubby (our word, not theirs). Even the composer found the premiere “rather boring.”
But the music — oh, that wonderful music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — got rave reviews. And it still does. Somewhere along the way, seeing “The Nutcracker” became a holiday tradition. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker teams with local dance studios to find young talent to put onstage with the pros.
This year marks Corbin Holloway’s sixth “Nutcracker” role with Moscow Ballet. His first was at age 7, before he had even started ballet classes. Now the Rockville, MD preteen has a featured role in the Bethesda show’s “Celebration Dance” scene.
Read More
GIFT OF CHRISTMAS
GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER TOUR
This Christmas give your family the gift of Moscow Ballet’s Gift of Christmas Great Russian Nutcracker tour! Step into a simpler time filled with sweet dreams and Christmas magic. With world-class artists, over 200 dazzling costumes, stunning sets, towering puppets and soaring birds, don’t miss your chance to ring in the holidays with this acclaimed Christmas extravaganza. The New York Times, “Hot Ticket!” Celebrate the cherished holiday tradition and relive the dream with Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Get tickets for the whole family now!
Buy Tickets
Moscow Ballet and SCAD Drawing Minors Announce Drawing Contest and Exhibition
Moscow Ballet's Fine Art program in partnership with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) created a student exhibition featuring drawings of Moscow Ballet Danseur Mykhailo Shcherbakov who visited during the fall of 2019. SCAD and Moscow Ballet are expanding a collaboration of several years promoting the artistry of SCAD drawing students using Moscow Ballet’s danseur Mykhailo Shcherbakov as subject. Danseur Mykhailo Shcherbakov performs as the Nutcracker Doll and Brother Fritz in the Great Russian Nutcracker in Savannah Friday, December 20, 3pm matinee and 7pm at Lucas Theatre. The exhibit is at SCAD’s Anderson Hall, 412 E. Anderson Street, Sav., GA 31401. Visitors must be accompanied by SCAD student or staff. Exhibition is open November 6, 2019 to January 16, 2020.
See More
Moscow Ballet engages communities
in many ways
Moscow Ballet brings Community Engagement programs to American and Canadian children which are led by the multi-talented Audition Directors. President Obama’s daughter Sasha joined in the Dance with Us program. Children of all ages and interests learn from the Russian cultural immersion program ‘New Horizons: A Children’s Program for Life’; SCAD and MICA fine art majors have participated in life drawing classes of the ballerinas and danseurs in the Fine Art Program; and concerto competition winning musicians accompany the Moscow Ballet Principal Ballerina live in Saint Saens’ “Dying Swan” Musical Wunderkind. Reach out to Moscow Ballet to set up a program in your community!
Contact Us
Picture credit: Pete Souza – The White House – Former President Barack Obama works on his remarks for a vigil in Newtown at a dress rehearsal of the Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker,” in which his daughter, Sasha, portrayed a mouse, at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland, Dec. 16, 2012.Moscow Ballet featured in new Michelle Obama book
In a sneak preview of her new book, Michelle Obama looks back on the darkest day she and her husband faced while living in the White House – the day of the Sandy Hook shooting. She eloquently recounts the gratefulness she felt for her daughter as she watched her perform on stage with the Moscow Ballet.
Read More
MOSCOW BALLET FEATURED AS PEACE
MAKER ON CNN WORLD-WIDE
News Anchor Christi Paul interviewed Russian Ballet Super Star/Moscow Ballet’s Andrey Batalov; Moscow Ballet producer Akiva Talmi; and local Atlanta Ballet students performing in the show. They chat about allegations of Russian collusion which may have cast a spotlight in the political arena, but there's at least one stage where Russia and the US seem to be in step and that is with Moscow Ballet!
Community Engagement since 1993
100,000+ children - Sharing Culture and Inspiring Peace
Dance with Us Ballerinas audition, rehearse and inspire 6000+ local student dancers who then perform side-by-side with the company of 40 members.
New Horizons – A Children’s Program for Life delivers cultural immersion sessions using interactive exercises which develop healthy diet, movement and creative expression habits for thousands of children of all ages.
Musical Wunderkind – Strings Ballerinas perform side by side with pre-professional Concerto Competition musiciansto St. Saen’s The Dying Swan
Musical Wunderkind – Choirs perform live in the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” and welcome patrons to singing repertoire in venue lobbies.
Musical Wunderkind – Orchestras – University musicians accompany Moscow Ballet in the complete Great Russian Nutcracker in many cities on the tour.
Fine Art Program brings ballerinas and fine art students together to draw, shoot, and paint the ballerinas at SCAD, MICA, Syracuse Fine Art program, and more.
See New Items in
Moscow Ballet’s Gift Store
Moscow Ballet’s Gift Store features branded items inspired by the Great Russian Nutcracker and more classic story ballets. Specialty items include a Limited Edition 18 inch “Kissy Doll” with numbered Certificate and a Christmas Ribbon-Candy Tutu; Moscow Ballet branded and hand-made Nutcrackers, Christmas Tree ornaments featuring Moscow Ballet characters, DVDs, books, posters, and T-shirts. Kids (and grown-ups!) love Moscow Ballet's pink, plush Waltz of the Roses Bear; and more unique birthday and Christmas items.