This year’s tour brings together performers from France, Ukraine, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Brazil, the UK, and beyond! Artists whose résumés read like a map of the world’s great stages: the Royal Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, English National Ballet. From Paris to Riyadh, New York to London, these dancers have learned that the stage is one of the few places where cultural boundaries blur while still being beautifully honored.
Among the dancers gracing this year’s tour are two rising stars: one raised in the warm, artistic city of Toulouse, France, and the other from the historic heart of the United Kingdom. Their distinct origins and cultural heritages have not only shaped who they are as individuals but also how they move, interpret, and live as artists. Their stories are a vivid example of how dance bridges continents, bringing together techniques, traditions, and a kaleidoscope of worldviews.
Poncione’s roots reflect a fascinating convergence of cultures: the rigorous elegance of French classical ballet, mixed with the musicality and fluid warmth often associated with Brazilian rhythm. She received her formal training in Toulouse at VM Ballet before coming to the United States, where she joined the scholarship program at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—a place known for nurturing dancers of diverse backgrounds and for valuing cultural expression as a form of power.
Her career reads like a dream passport: performances with Alvin Ailey, appearances at New York Fashion Week for Vogue, dancing atop the Eiffel Tower, starring in Netflix’s Murder Mystery 2, touring Europe with Rock the Ballet, and now, taking on the roles of Snowflake and Waltz of the Flowers in Nutcracker!. Each stage, each spotlight, is colored by her multicultural identity and the breadth of experiences she carries with her.
Her fellow cast mate, Aimee Williams from the UK, also comes from a background that shows how far-reaching the ballet world can be. “None of my family did ballet,” she says, “but my two older sisters started after school. I always wanted to do what they were doing, so I began taking ballet classes, and everything developed from there.”
While Williams’ path began as an act of sibling imitation, it soon blossomed into something much more. Trained at Elmhurst Ballet School and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, she has danced with the English National Ballet in Swan Lake in the Round and most recently performed with the Royal Ballet in their acclaimed production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Though she may not have come from a family of artists, she has clearly found her place among them.
There are, of course, moments when languages don’t line up perfectly—when words falter. But dance doesn’t. “In the dance world, we always find a way to understand each other,” she adds. “Dance is, after all, a universal language.”
This theme recurs often in their reflections. Williams recalls how, on her last tour, she learned about Italian culture, cuisine, and language simply by working alongside dancers from the region. These everyday cultural exchanges deepen the company’s bonds and show just how fluidly the arts can blur, celebrate, and transcend national lines.
And then, of course, there is the thrill of sharing that synergy with audiences. Both dancers mention the joy of performing for families in smaller American towns—places that may not have a resident ballet company or regular access to live performances. “Going to the smaller towns and performing ballet to families that may not be immersed in ballet yet can still come to enjoy the performance,” Williams says, “that’s special.”
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is in many ways a vehicle for cultural diplomacy—a space where elegance and athleticism introduce audiences to something far larger than themselves. The show blends high-quality classical ballet with unique elements: circus-infused choreography, elaborate costumes, and movement that melds tradition with surprise. As Poncione puts it, “What makes this version of The Nutcracker different from the ones I’ve seen in France or other countries is, first, the costumes and sets—they are really beautiful, detailed, and high quality. I also love that this production includes other styles… like circus elements and a more modern touch.”
“I hadn’t really performed in a very classical ballet like Nutcracker for a long time,” says Poncione. “It feels great to return to my roots and reconnect with that pure, classical style.”
Williams agrees. “It is very family-friendly and has been constructed in a way so the whole ballet is engaging,” she says. “Each section brings the story along in a fun way whilst still holding the standard of classical ballet.”
Both speak passionately about touring as the most exhilarating part of the job. Poncione calls it one of her main reasons for choosing the profession: to travel, to perform, and to connect with people through art. Williams echoes this sentiment: “I love the travel! And also meeting lots of new dancers.”
In NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, the magic onstage is matched only by the richness of the stories behind it. With a cast drawn from across the globe, this production doesn’t just perform ballet—it becomes a living map of how the arts transcend borders, even as they honor them. The diversity in the cast isn’t just a backdrop; it is the beating heart of the show.
So this holiday season, come see the show. Not just for the sparkle or the spectacle—but for the deeper truth it carries: that the arts remain one of the most powerful ways we come to know one another.
Tickets for NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet are available now.
