The dancers were absolutely STUNNING. In fact, they were actually so beautiful that Erin and I both teared up during different parts of the performance. It was so magical and made us miss our dancing days! I can never decide what my favorite scene is from the show, but the waltz of the flowers, Arabian dance, and the sugar-plum fairy get me every time. Also, I thought that this production cast Clara perfectly. She was spot on with everything.
Here are some press images of the performance courtesy of Liza Voll Photography since I couldn’t snap any as part of the audience.
And here are some fun fitness facts about The Nutcracker that I dug up to share with you guys:
- Boston Ballet dancers logged over 70 hours of rehearsal time to get ready for the Nutcracker.
- On stage, the three Russian dancers do nearly 40 jumps up to five feet in the air all in only one minute and 12 seconds. The lead Russian does 18-20 jumps, and his companions do 10. (I want no complaints the next time we are doing burpees in class!)
- Mother Ginger’s skirt weighs an impressive 45 pounds, and her (his!) feet are 18-22 inches off the ground on stilts that weigh 15 pounds per pair. This is all with 8 kids hiding under there!
- The bear’s costume weighs eight pounds, which is CRAZY considering the amount of jumping and turning he has to do without being able to see!
- The Nutcracker Prince repeatedly lifts 100-120 pounds of ballerina in just the Grand Pas alone.
Cool, huh? Nevermind the amount of athleticism it takes to rehearse for and execute 44 consecutive performances in just 5 weeks. I can’t even imagine!
I had such a wonderful time at the show, and it was a much-needed night to get my mind off of some things that were bothering me during an especially stressful week. A huge thank you to The Boston Ballet for my tickets and getting me in the holiday mood.
Want to go too? Enter to win a pair of tickets to one of the following Nutcracker performances next week!
- Tuesday 12/16 at 7:30pm
- Wednesday 12/17 at 7:30pm
- Thursday 12/18 at 1:00pm
- Thursday 12/18 at 7:30pm
All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling me what helps you get in the Christmas spirit. You can receive one extra entry by sharing this giveaway on social media and leaving me a second comment letting me know you did so. This giveaway will run through Sunday 12/14 at 12pm EST, and I will announce the winner on Monday morning. Good luck!
What helps me get in the Christmas spirit is definitely not the shopping or the Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. For me, it’s when I’m in the basement dragging up the Christmas decorations and I come across the manilla envelopes from years past. I can’t help but open them up and start browsing through all the old picture cards. Before you know it, too much time has passed, but I am smiling, feeling nostalgic and a little lighter in my step as I ascend the stairs with the heavy boxes.
I want to hear about the Rustic Kitchen!
I would LOVE to go see the Nutcracker- I have always wanted to but every year I say I’ll save the money and go next year. I get in the Christmas spirit by leaving the traditional Christmas pandora station on while I do chores and study.
I love to get in the Christmas spirit by wrapping presents for loved ones. 🙂 We haven’t gotten a tree for our small apartment the past couple years, but adding small wintry touches like a wreath and vases of berries helps too!
I shared! https://twitter.com/emireerose/status/543032959444746242
As corny as it sounds, dancing around the Christmas tree with my husband while we decorate our tree gets me in the Christmas spirit. I’ve never seen The Nutcracker or any ballet performance before and would LOVE to go someday 🙂
Putting up the Christmas tree and looking at all of the ornaments David and I have collected over the years for our years together as a couple as well as a family with our children REALLY puts me in the Christmas spirit. We have ornaments dating back to 2007!!! Also, hanging the stockings for the girls makes me really happy! Surprisingly, David has always wanted to see the Nutcracker, and I would love the chance to go with him 🙂
This is my favorite time of year! I also feel it is a very romantic time as well:) My favorite thing to do is put up Christmas decorations with my fiance. Getting together with family and friends for holiday parties also puts me in the spirit. Another tradition is making Oreo cookie balls for all my family and friends, not the healthiest recipe though:)
I danced ballet for 10 years and was in the Nutcracker in NH was I was little, thank you for the opportunity to win!
I shared on my Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=11020039
I learned about Christmas, when I moved to USA. We celebrate New Years and give our gifts then. I loved Christmas from the very first year I was introduced to it. I love everything about it: Decorating the tree, wrapping presents (I am a horrible wrapper), eggnog lattes, ginger bread cookies, etc.. I think the second I know Christmas is coming, is when Thanksgiving is over and you bring a Christmas tree home, decorate it and put the stockings next to it 🙂 Christmas is awesome..
I shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/missalice91/status/543052106052026368
The first thing I like to do is get a tree! Sitting in the living room admiring the lit and decorated tree is one of my favorite things to do!
The city of Quincy has a huge Christmas parade the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
The route goes right under my condo balcony, so my husband & I host a party every year. This year we had 15 family members attending!
Also, I tweeted about your giveaway.
I shared this on FB
Seeing white twinkly lights everywhere all of a sudden puts me in the holiday spirit. I love walking through my neighborhood at night this time of year and seeing all the decorations.
I tweeted about this give away.
Definitely decorating the house to Christmas music puts me in the holiday spirit!
Christmas lights and Christmas movies! 🙂
omg! this might be your best giveaway yet 🙂 I get into the Christmas spirit with music and decorating. so much fun!
I tweeted 🙂
I get in the Christmas spirit by listening to Christmas music (N*SYNC/Mariah Carey Holday Pandora), decorating the house, and baking lots of yummy treats! I also love wrapping gifts… 🙂
I try to see a holiday show each year to help get in the spirit but this is the first year in a while that I have not had the chance to see one.
I LOVE the Nutcracker! I have always begged to see Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, but never have had the chance. I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I also grew up as a dancer for 15 years, and I appreciate all the hard work and dedication of ballerinas. I know I would tear up as well! Once Thanksgiving is over, I begin to decorate my house with Christmas music playing and dancing around and really gets me in the Christmas spirit. I love listening to Christmas music in my car and at work to remind me this is a magical time of year and to be thankful.
Christmas lights on houses, trees covered with snow, Christmas music playing while wrapping gifts, selecting toys for Toys for Tots, all put me in the Christmas spirit.
It’s been awhile since we have been to a Christmas show but all of them put me in the spirit! Getting dressed up, going into Boston, enjoying the music, the show. Remembering loved ones that have passed and appreciating all they did for me. Thinking of my beloved Mom on Christmas Eve. Memories of my children in their Christmas plays and concerts, and watching them enjoy Santa Claus! All of this reminds me of Christmas.
I shared this on Facebook.
Christmas music and decorating the tree for sure!
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/Caroline_Winn/status/543177440357384192
Did I mention, David and I could also REALLY use a date? Since having a baby, there has been very little time with each other! It would really be nice 🙂
I don’t have social media, but am hoping this is enough. I danced in the Nutcracker as a little girl and have not gone to see it in years! What a special holiday tradition. My five beautiful children get me thru the holidays. Knowing how magical this time of year is to them. And, seeing the joy in their eyes as they come downstairs on Christmas morning is what life is all about. Merry Christmas to you and yours 🙂
Putting up the tree and decorating the house gets me in the spirit!
The Nutcracker Ballet in Boston really gets me in the Spirit of Christmas! My husband and I would love to! We also bake and bring things to local food places for the homeless and that gets us in the spirit. We also have in the past handed out clothing at parks and given spiritual hope to those down on their luck. It would be wonderful to go to the ballet this year. We cannot afford it this year.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/helobuff/status/673176917588189190