If you love The Nutcracker, the ABT's new Version at BAM is Fabulous

People's choice. I think it's the Royal Opera version

I was hoping for something more contemporary, but this traditional version is beautiful!

I've been watching the battle for 2 weeks now, Sophia is either going to love or hate the nutcracker when she's older lol

Watching the Marlinsky Theater's Nutcracker on 12.22.11

Watching the Royal Opera House production...amazing

The Royal Opera House is on

Only have 1 more version to watch. So far, I thought the English version had the best costuming. The Russian one had immaculate dancing. The Bourne version had the most expressive dancers, but the... more

Only have 1 more version to watch. So far, I thought the English version had the best costuming. The Russian one had immaculate dancing. The Bourne version had the most expressive dancers, but the Berlin one is my absolute favorite. The choreography was interesting, the concept was just different enough to be interesting, but traditional enough to please me & the athleticism of the dancers was amazing.

Yay!!! We'll get to see who wins on Christmas Eve!

Watching Mathew Bourne's version. It's been very unusual, but I can honestly say the dancers' faces are so much more expressive. They all seem very passionate as compared to the Russian version where... more

Watching Mathew Bourne's version. It's been very unusual, but I can honestly say the dancers' faces are so much more expressive. They all seem very passionate as compared to the Russian version where the dancing was impeccable, but the dancers looked bored.

Mariinsky Theatre's version. Visually, a delight. Innovative costumes. Really liked the snake charming bit. Still somewhat traditional, with a bit of an update to the story. Neat. Still a toss up for... more

Mariinsky Theatre's version. Visually, a delight. Innovative costumes. Really liked the snake charming bit. Still somewhat traditional, with a bit of an update to the story. Neat. Still a toss up for me between Royal Opera and Bolshoi.

I have been blown away by the Brits big performance! The sets have been incredibly detailed, the costumes divine, traditional story. Love this version!

Catching up on the ones I missed. First up, Royal Opera Ballet in London. From the promo, the sets look amazing.

Well. That was something. I voted for the Bolshoi version, btw.

Ok, first time I've seen someone smoking a cigarette in the Nutcracker.

Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker. This is definitely umm interesting.

Let the weirdness begin... Matthew Bourne up tonight. Modern interpretation. Should be interesting, even though I am kind of a traditionalist.

Curious about this version - but if it doesn't amuse, I'll be switching over to "The Little Mermaid"! :-/

Did anyone else notice the 1500's Commedia dell' arte ( Comedy of Artists) basis for the 2007 Mariinsky production? The masks, the Pulchinello character ( white with cone shaped hat, the lovers who... more

Did anyone else notice the 1500's Commedia dell' arte ( Comedy of Artists) basis for the 2007 Mariinsky production? The masks, the Pulchinello character ( white with cone shaped hat, the lovers who are on fire, the story unfolding "below stairs," the often raw, sometimes sinister vulgarity of the characters who for the most part act in good fun. The stock characters go back to ancient Rome, and began as street theater for the masses. Not the rarified atmosphere we usually associate with Ballet, but lustier with Giant bees and flies stuck on the massive pots of honey. This Nutcracker was a Solstice passage from darkness into light--with figures of the death of the year observing the human commotion. Oddly classical for all its overturning of standard Nutcracker conceptions.

The Bolshoi was dead in the water--slow, too much posing, too little dancing,
too many bows from center stage followed by walking off stage right in the middle of the production. The Prima soared, but alone.

Excellent version so far ... Traditional, with the technique and athleticism that make ballet so elegant!!

Excited for the Bolshoi! Russians know how to do this right!

Bolshoi up tonight. The russians have always known how to do this up right. Ready to be blown away!

Excitement abounds! The BOLSHOI!!!

The Royal Opera House version. I actually like this one best, mainly because it's the classic story.

Royal Opera House: love this one.

Looking forward to the Royal Opera tomorrow!

I love the Mariinsky's new Nutcracker! The choreography is a great mix of classic ballet and modern mixed in.Also, I think their Clara is marvelous.