26 Aug 2024 NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is Coming to Little Rock

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet’s international ensemble will grace stages across the country this holiday season, including the Robinson Center on Dec. 31. The 32nd annual North American tour showcases a fusion of talent from esteemed ballet capitals worldwide, converging on one stage to spread the overarching message of the holidays—peace. 

Headlined by principal dancers hailing from renowned opera houses in Ukraine and joined by a troupe of 40 exceptional artists representing Japan, Italy, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Poland and beyond, the 2024 tour unveils newly reimagined scenes crafted by acclaimed Polish choreographer Viktor Davydiuk. Seamlessly blending classical ballet with avant-garde circus techniques, Davydiuk’s vision breaks new ground in ballet-theatrical presentation. In addition to the enchanting performances, the tour will debut their new “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Cookbook,” featuring recipes themed around the ballet’s characters and global culinary traditions.

“As we prepare for this year’s tour, alongside the visionary choreography of Viktor Davydiuk, we’re thrilled to unveil exciting new elements that promise to elevate the enchantment of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet to even greater heights,” shared Dan Talmi, executive producer of Talmi Entertainment. “We’re stepping into a new era of artistic expression and creative exploration. Our dedication to pushing creative boundaries and engaging all of the senses ensures that each performance offers an unforgettable experience, weaving together both traditional and modern elements that will strike a chord with audiences of all ages.”

Talmi Entertainment’s NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is the largest touring production of its kind, with performances in many of North America’s most iconic theaters, including Detroit’s Fox Theatre, New Orleans’ Saenger Theatre, and Midland’s Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center. In the 2024 production, Ukrainian ballerinas Karyna Shatkovskaya and Elena Pechenyuk will reprise the role of Clara.  Exclusive to Talmi Entertainment’s Nutcracker rendition is Act II’s poignant depiction of the “Land of Peace and Harmony,” featuring the signature acro-ballet adagio “Doves of Peace.” This powerful symbolic scene embodies unity and understanding through dance, resonating with a broader plea for international peace among nations.

This year introduces the Herald to the scene; a Cyr Wheel artist that embodies the spirit of the Forest. The Herald leads Clara through a joyous celebration adorned with magnificent 10-foot-tall puppets and elegantly dancing couples representing five of the world’s great heritages—inspiring the creation of the cookbook.

Curated with love, the cookbook features recipes themed around the Nutcracker ballet and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Each recipe is illustrated by Ukrainian artist Yelyzaveta Bondarenko and represents one of the ballet’s twelve most iconic characters, integrating culinary traditions from the twelve countries visited in the ballet’s storyline. In collaboration with prominent French chefs based in the Berkshires region, Raphael Gimbert and Etienne La Gal, the recipes reflect the international settings of the ballet—ranging from France to China —and carry forward the ballet’s message of peace and cultural unity.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit nutcracker.com. Special pricing is available for groups. Call 800.320.1733 or email [email protected].