Did the New York City Ballet Perform the Nutcracker This Year?

Ballet

The New York City Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker is a beloved tradition for many families throughout the city. Unfortunately, this year, the performance was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to cancel this year’s performance was a difficult one, as ballet is a beloved art form that has been enjoyed by generations of New Yorkers.

The iconic George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker was first performed by the New York City Ballet in 1954 and has since become a cherished holiday tradition for many. The two-act ballet tells the story of a young girl who enters a magical world filled with toys and sweets. Throughout her journey, she meets several characters who help her along the way, including a Sugar Plum Fairy and toy soldiers.

The production requires hundreds of people to bring it to life each year, from dancers and musicians to costume makers and stage technicians. This year, however, the NYCB made the difficult decision to cancel their performance due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. In an official statement, they said:

“We deeply regret that we must cancel our performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker this December in order to ensure that we are maintaining public health safety.”

While it will be deeply missed this holiday season, NYCB is providing its fans with alternative ways to experience The Nutcracker this year. They have released an exclusive streaming version of their 2019 production on their website which can be accessed for free. Additionally, they are offering virtual ballet classes for children and adults alike so that anyone can learn some moves from one of their most popular ballets.

This year has been difficult for everyone in different ways and it will certainly look different from years past without our usual holiday traditions like The Nutcracker performance from NYCB. However, despite these changes we can still find comfort in taking part in alternative activities such as streaming performances or taking virtual classes with professional dancers.

In conclusion, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved annual performance of The Nutcracker by New York City Ballet was cancelled this year but there are alternative ways to experience this iconic ballet such as through streaming or virtual classes.