Moscow Ballet's
Great Russian Nutcracker

‘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.

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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! 

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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 plush Waltz of the Flowers Bear, available in pink or white; and more unique birthday and Christmas items.