If you are seeking a new holiday tradition, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, performed by the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB), is a production that delights audiences of all ages.
The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) became the first and only school in the world to license and perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® in 1965. Today, CPYB’s production of The Nutcracker ballet – performed in Harrisburg and Hershey, PA, is one of the most sought-after events during the holidays.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® tells the story of a young girl’s (Marie) journey to a magical land after falling asleep on Christmas eve and transitions from reality into fantasy.
If you are in the Washington D.C. area and considering a family-friendly holiday event this year, gather up the family and attend a performance of CPYB’s own George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® tells a mesmerizing and timeless tale introducing audience members of all ages to ballet through colorful characters, dynamic storylines, and beautiful stage effects.
The History of The Nutcracker
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is one of the most famous and beloved ballets of all time. In 1816, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was first published by E.T.A. The original release of the book was not intended for children. In fact, it was originally drafted as a horror-style fairytale for adults only. Fortunately, a family-friendly version of The Nutcracker was developed by Alexander Dumas. A ballet was commissioned from the children’s version of the story with music written by Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky. The first ballet production of The Nutcracker story premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, in December of 1892.
While The Nutcracker is now well-known around the world, this took some time. George Balanchine, a dancer from Russia, once danced in the original The Nutcracker in 1919 when he was just 15 years old. As an adult, many years later, George Balanchine relocated to New York City, where he began to produce and choreograph his own shows. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® ultimately became his most famous production.
After George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® debuted in New York City in 1954, the production ultimately became a magical holiday tradition.
If you are looking for an exceptional performance of The Nutcracker ballet near Washington D.C, Our George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® production will be live at Whitaker Center on December 10th, 2022, (1 p.m. & 5 p.m.) as well as Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 2 p.m. Pricing for tickets at the Whitaker Center ranges between $25-$48 per child to $30-$48 per adult.
The George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® production by CPYB will also be live from Hershey Theatre on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 (1 p.m. & 5 p.m.) as well as Sunday, December 18th, 2022, at 2 p.m. Pricing for tickets at the Hershey Theatre ranges between $30-$50 per child to $35-$50 per adult.
