[43/50] We are nearing the finale of this Nutcracker season! Edward Villella and Patricia McBride in the finale. Martha Swope, 1968.

[44/50] Of Mimi Paul, Clive Barnes wrote: “Her musicality was precise and yet not so precise as to be ungracious, her manner was regal...

[41/50] “This was a Sugar Plum Fairy with both regal carriage and gentle, gracious manner, particularly in her interaction with the...

[42/50] Suzanne Farrell as Dew Drop. Photo by Martha Swope, 1966.

[40/50] “I named the Dew Drop myself—there was no Dew Drop in Leningrad.” —Balanchine in Repertory in Review: 40 Years of the New York...

[39/50] Robert Maiorano & Stephanie Saland (front) and Julie Hays (background) by Martha Swope, 1970

[38/50] "After one of The Nutcracker’s most recent performances, principal dancer Patricia McBride, who has danced the Sugar Plum Fairy...

[37/50] Akim Volynsky, Russian dance critic, wrote, “I must mention the great success by a still quite young [he was 18] and unusually...

[35/50] "The Dewdrop is different from the flowers. For one, the flowers don’t leave the stage. They are constantly swirling around,...

[36/60] "In the beginning, there was Tchaikovsky; maybe there still is. 'I always have an idea he is so happy because we do it right,'...

[34/50] Just like all the students at the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine performed in...

[33/50] A year ago today I was lucky enough to meet my favorite ballerina. I mean, I have a lot of favorites, but Allegra is at the top....

[32/50] Gelsey on the role of Dewdrop: “When I returned to Balanchine’s stage [following a foot injury], I had the facility to absorb...

[31/50] Richard Rapp as Candy Cane. Photo by Martha Swope.

[28/50] This is Part 1 of a 3-part post for our 3-show day. These posts share Maria Tallchief's experience with the Grand Pas de Deux...

[27/50] A story from Merrill Ashley's book Dancing for Balanchine (affiliate link) "At the first rehearsal, taught by Una Kai, a ballet...

[26/50] A journal entry from Jacques d'Amboise, December 11, 1954: "Karinska told me a friend asked her what she had put in the costumes...

[24/50] On Marie’s dream [Act II] Balanchine said, “Actually, it’s not a dream—It’s the reality that Mother didn’t believe. The story...

[25/50] "Miss Adams is one of the loveliest of artists, and a shining jewel in the City Ballet’s crown. [...] There is a glowing quality...

[23/50] Jumping into week 4 of Nutcracker like... Patricia Neary as Dewdrop. Martha Swope, 1966. New York Public Library