The English National Ballet's 2016 production of 'The Nutcracker' at the London Coliseum in London, England

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A holiday tradition endures

If it's December, then ballet companies in many places must be performing ‘The Nutcracker.’ The ballet has become an iconic holiday entertainment staple, produced around the world. This photo captures a scene from the 2016 production by the English National Ballet at the London Coliseum.

It's perhaps the world's most indomitable ballet today, but when 'The Nutcracker' premiered on December 18, 1892, in St. Petersburg, Russia, it was far from a hit. Some critics appreciated Tchaikovsky’s score, but most found the choreography and dancing 'amateurish' and 'insipid.' Largely forgotten by the early 20th century, 'The Nutcracker' made its US debut with a performance by the San Francisco Ballet company in 1944. It became a true Christmastime classic when choreographer George Balanchine staged his own 1954 production with the New York City Ballet. Balanchine’s version caught on and inspired other dance companies to perform it themselves. Most years, ‘The Nutcracker’ is such a draw that a staging of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas fantasy can help keep a ballet company financially stable. Even in 2020, with all its challenges for the performing arts, ballet companies are doing what they can to keep this seasonal stalwart alive.