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The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition in the United States. Brought west from Russia in the 1940s, the Christmas Eve ballet has delighted audiences for more than a century, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to performances annually.
Today, The Nutcracker’s influence has only grown as dance companies have evolved their productions to meet the tastes of modern audiences. According to Dance/USA’s most recent Annual Financial Survey, Nutcracker ticket sales have increased 70% from 2008 to 2017. Meanwhile, attendance has increased by 14%.
When people think of The Nutcracker, they recall holiday traditions and making memories with friends and family. But one of the biggest — and perhaps more surprising — benefits of The Nutcracker, is its impact on our community.
Ballet San Antonio’s (BSA) rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic, choreographed by former professional dancers and San Antonio locals Haley Henderson Smith and Easton Smith, reflects San Antonio’s vibrant culture and diversity. Alongside 26 local professional ballet dancers, this year’s cast will feature 120 local youth, musicians and community heroes in the role of Mother Ginger.
The Nutcracker requires tremendous work to put on each year. BSA’s tech crews spend more than 2,300 hours arranging set pieces, adjusting lighting and doing other behind-the-scenes work to transform the Tobin Center into a majestic snowscape. The atmosphere on stage is powered by 350 lights, and dancers are transformed into their characters with more than 500 costume pieces and over 75 props.
During Act One and at other times throughout the performance, 30-lb. snow bags are released gradually by fly operators to create a realistic snowfall effect.
Though The Nutcracker performances are held for only two weeks out of the year, planning is a year-round activity. As soon as this year’s Nutcracker concludes, the production team will debrief and begin planning for the next Nutcracker season, which kicks off in early September.
Casting also starts way in advance. During the summer, the artistic director works in conjunction with the artistic team to start assigning roles to company dancers. Once casting is decided, the wardrobe team begins preparing dancers’ costumes. Costumes are both bought and made from scratch. One of the most laborious tasks is Mother Ginger’s famous hoop skirt, which is put together by hand every year. Costume and wardrobe staff spend roughly 12 hours repairing, six hours putting together, and one to two hours adjusting the skirt every dress rehearsal to make her towering figure come to life.
In addition to its impact on our culture, The Nutcracker also plays a significant role in boosting our local economy.
Ballet San Antonio’s productions and programs generate 85 local jobs and an annual economic impact of approximately $2.5 million, according to Americans for the Arts. Approximately one-third of this economic impact comes from BSA’s Nutcracker production.
The Nutcracker fuels our economy through ticket sales and event-related spending. It also generates funds to support BSA’s continued operations.
With all the care and artistic vision put into each performance, as well as its impact on our economy and culture, The Nutcracker is emblematic of BSA’s core mission — to share the splendor of dance throughout our community.
We hope you will ring in the holiday season with us this year by coming to see The Nutcracker, Dec. 6-15 at the Tobin Center. Tickets are available now at www.tobincenter.org. Additionally, Texas students can enjoy The Nutcracker from their classroom with BSA’s The Nutcracker Film, provided free of charge to school districts and students across Texas.