“The Nutcracker” is one the most beloved ballets of all time, making it a very popular winter activity when it comes to town. This year, it was performed at the Morrison Center in downtown Boise from Dec. 9 through Dec. 18.  

“The Nutcracker” follows the story of a young girl who, on Christmas Eve, falls asleep and dreams herself into a fantastical world. Her favorite Nutcracker toy comes alive and together they go on a journey in which they fight rats, travel through realms and experience various cultures of the world. As fun and interesting as the storyline is, the incredible dancing, choreography and music makes the performance one of the most entertaining and anticipated of the year.  

The dancers are incredibly trained and work extremely hard to put on a seamless and perfect performance for all in attendance. Most of the performers are from Ballet Idaho, but there were also many guest stars from other academies and even states. The Boise Philharmonic performed the music, and it was absolutely stunning.  

According to nutcracker.com, “The first performance of the Christmas ballet was held as a double premiere together with Tchaikovsky’s last opera, Iolanta, around the Christmas holiday season on December 18, 1892, at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.” The Nutcracker is one of the most beloved ballet performances of all time. If a person is a fan of the arts and ballet, chances are they have seen the Nutcracker.  

“I love ‘The Nutcracker’ because it is a performance that I have been doing every winter since I was three, so it’s always been a part of my life,” said senior Dana Dvorak. Dvorak is an avid dancer who is also a member of the Eagle Lightning Dance Team at Eagle High. “I have always dreamed of getting to play the sugar plum fairy, so it is really exciting and special that I get to do that this year.” 

Watching “The Nutcracker” can transport the audience to a different world through the incredible dancing and moving music. Joining loved ones and settling down to watch this timeless performance is one of the best activities of the holiday season.