The Nutcracker

Whether it’s a family holiday tradition or not, attending The Nutcracker is one of the quintessential Christmastime experiences all children should get to enjoy at least once. I was 10 when I first saw the famous ballet. Many years later as an adult, seeing the dancers wordlessly tell the story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince was just as magical as I’d remembered. Based on a 197-year-old story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker’s score was written by famed Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, though it didn’t gain popularity stateside until the late 1960s. Our own Spokane Symphony, under the direction of Morihiko Nakahara, performs Tchaikovsky’s exquisite score, while dancers from California’s State Street Ballet play the major roles, joined on stage by 75 local dancers.