Tune in to PBS on Wednesday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m.* for the Live From Lincoln Center premiere of New York City Ballet's beloved holiday favorite, George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM from the David H. Koch Theater. Set to Tchaikovsky's glorious score, George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM features New York City Ballet's dancers and the New York City Ballet Orchestra, as well as 50 children from the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. The seminal work also features choreography by Balanchine, scenery by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, costumes by Karinska, and lighting by Mark Stanley, after the original design by Ronald Bates.
Balanchine's renowned production, which premiered on February 2, 1954, at the
City Center of Music and Drama in New York, helped to establish The Nutcracker and its score as perennial favorites in the United States, evident by the now countless versions of the ballet performed all over the country. NYCB's acclaimed production is seen by more than 100,000 people annually and has been performed more than 2,000 times.
For the broadcast, the ballet will be seen from a variety of perspectives, with eight different camera locations capturing the action, which will bring television viewers inside the ballet for a uniquely rich experience.
New York City Ballet is one of the foremost dance companies in the world, with a roster of spectacular dancers and an unparalleled repertory. Now under the artistic direction of Ballet Master in Chief
Peter Martins, the Company was founded in 1948 by the legendary choreography
George Balanchine and arts patron
Lincoln Kirstein, and quickly became world-renowned for its athletic, contemporary style, which revolutionized the ballet world. The Company has also been home to
Jerome Robbins, who made more than 50 works for NYCB, as well as to countless other choreographers, composers, dancers and musicians. Widely acknowledged for its enduring contributions to dance, NYCB is committed to promoting creative excellence and nurturing a new generation of dancers and choreographers.
Live From Lincoln Center is in its 36th broadcast season and has received 13 Emmy Awards. Produced by Lincoln Center's
John Goberman, this series has made the world's greatest artists on Lincoln Center's renowned stages accessible to home viewers in virtually every corner of the United States. It is the only series of live performing arts telecasts on American television today.
