NEW YORK CITY – The Nutcracker Ballet has always been one of my favorite ballets.

From the stunning sets to the beautiful dancing, the Nutcracker Ballet is one of the most magical ballets. As a ballet dancer myself, I have had the opportunity to dance in multiple Nutcracker performances and have been able to watch many of them as well. But in my opinion, the New York City Ballet does it best. As you walk into the Lincoln Center, you can already begin to feel the magic in the air. As I walked into the theater, I was taken aback by its large atmosphere and its beauty. When the time came for the ballet to start, the lights went dim, and the audience went silent. Just then, the curtains opened, and the live orchestra started playing beautifully, “Tichavsky the Nutcracker Overture.” As the dancers came onstage, I felt as if I was at Clara’s house attending her Christmas Eve party. As the performance progressed, I felt as if I was in the Land of Sweets.

After the performance ended, it felt as if I was coming back to reality. So, while there are many great Nutcracker Ballet performances worldwide, I believe that the New York City Ballet does its best to capture the magic of the Nutcracker.