The legendary holiday ballet performed by the Bolshoi Ballet.
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© Diana Markosian
It is Christmas Eve at the house of Herr and Frau Silberhaus and their children. Family and friends gather for the night's festivities.
The Nutcracker tells the story of the young girl Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.
The Nutcracker tells the story of the young girl Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.
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© Diana Markosian
The two-act ballet was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. It was first performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1919.
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© Diana Markosian
A performer has his make-up put on backstage before the show.
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A dancer, dressed as a nutcracker, warms up in a rehearsal room . In the ballet, Clara's godfather Drosselmeyer presents life-size dolls to the children, including a nutcracker.
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© Diana Markosian
On stage, a dancer exchanges her shoes and warms up for the performance.
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© Diana Markosian
After Drosselmeyer presents the nutcracker doll to Clara, in a jealous fit, her brother Fritz breaks it.
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In the early morning, dancers take class before performing.
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After the party ends, Clara awakens as a mouse runs through her room. The clock strikes midnight. Suddenly, the room fills with giant mice who attack Clara. Life-size toy soldiers, led by her valiant Nutcracker, come to her rescue.
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© Diana Markosian
In between acts, dancers warm-up in a tiny green studio near the stage.
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© Diana Markosian
Across the world, a project launched by the Bolshoi to transmit live performances of the Nutcracker ballet via cinema screens.
