The Moscow Ballet's Great Nutcracker

By Amy

We had the pleasure of taking our daughter to the Nutcracker ballet again this year, this time to the performance by the Moscow Ballet of the Great Russian Nutcracker.  Although its been a successful touring show for 19 years, this is the first time its appearing at George Mason's Performing Arts Center in Fairfax.  We were happy with this development because we had never seen the Moscow Ballet before and GMU is a convenient venue with plenty of easy parking (particularly important when its a cold night and the clock is ticking on your kindergartener's sleep cycle).  

The Great Nutcracker is a beautiful ballet with bright colorful costumes, whimsical puppets, hand-painted backdrops, and truly superb dancing by the professional Russian dancers.  Alexandra Elagina as Masha (aka Clara) was a highlight with her delicate beauty and graceful en pointe.  The audience was also knocked-out by the Arabian Variation by Sergey Chumakov and Elena Petrachenko.  With thrilling lifts and incredible acrobatics, you have to see it to believe it!

The best reason to see Moscow Ballet's Great Nutcracker is the quality of the dancing.  There may be versions with flashier and more sophisticated sets, but if you truly love ballet you will appreciate the legendary technical skill of these Russian dancers.  The children in the audience also really enjoyed the humor throughout the show, especially the antics of the larger than life puppets.  Another unique quality to this version is the featuring of Russian folk tale characters in colorful costumes.  Combined with Tchaikovsky's beloved score, the Great Russian Nutcracker is sure to please everyone in the family.

The Great Russian Nutcracker is being performed at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia (Dec. 13-14) and at The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland (Dec. 15-16).

Running time is two 45-minute Acts.  Tickets range from $28-$88.  A limited number of VIP seats are available for $122.  Tickets can be purchased through GMU's Center for the Arts, the Music Center at Strathmore, or one of the partner charitible organizations below.  For more information about the Moscow Ballet and the Great Russian Nutcracker please visit www.nutcracker.com.

The Moscow Ballet is partnering with charitable organizations across the country to raise funds through their performances.  In Virginia, $5 from every ticket sold by INOVA Fairfax Hospital For Children will go back to INOVA to help provide medical services to children in need.  This is $5 off the original price of the ticket, so you do not pay more for your tickets, but still support the charitable mission.  To purchase tickets and simultaneously make a donation, go to www.nutcracker.com/inova and use the code "INOVA" or e-mailandy@nutcracker.com with INOVA in the subject line.  In Maryland, $5 from every ticket sold by Fuel Fund of Maryland will go back to Fuel Fund to provide heat and home utility assistance for community members most in need.  To purchase tickets and simultaneously make a donation to Fuel Fund of Maryland, use the promocode "FUELFUND", call Moscow Ballet at 800.320.1733 (ext. 15) or e-mail  andy@nutcracker.com with Fuel Fund in the subject line.