THE HISTORY OF
THE NUTCRACKER
The Nutcracker first premiered in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, featuring a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
“Mr. C” originally created this Nutcracker in 1944 for his San Francisco Ballet and then brought it to Utah in 1955. Notably, Ballet West continues to perform Mr. C’s version to this day, the only company currently allowed to present his version. Shortly thereafter, The Nutcracker began to crop up around the country and there are now hundreds of versions performed across America annually by ballet, modern, and even hip-hop companies.
Years
Performances
Tickets sold
Numbers from 1981 – 2024
THE STORY OF
THE NUTCRACKER
The Nutcracker begins at the Stahlbaum home on Christmas Eve. Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and their children, Clara and Fritz, are busy preparing for the evening festivities. The guests arrive, including Clara’s godfather, Dr. Drosselmeyer. Dr. Drosselmeyer has fashioned a special gift for Clara—a Nutcracker designed in the form of a small soldier. Clara falls in love with her Nutcracker at once.
GET TO KNOW
BALLET WEST
Ballet West was established in Salt Lake City by co-founders Willam F. Christensen, often called the “Godfather of American ballet,” and Utah’s “First Lady of the Arts,” Glenn Walker Wallace.
With this eclectic and ever-expanding outlook, Ballet West is truly an American pioneer in the world of dance. By honoring the history and tradition of the artform, while constantly moving forward with new and untried concepts, we continue to keep ballet in Utah and the world alive and thriving into the 21st Century and beyond.
Ballet West is a tax exempt 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization inspiring and empowering a broad community locally and globally through presentation, training, and education in the art form of ballet.