[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

[22/50] “Kay Mazzo uses space in a surprisingly large and generous way for such a delicate girl” — The Village Voice, 1969 Kay Mazzo in...

[21/50] [1/2] Maria Tallchief remembering Tanny's opening night performance as Dew Drop: "...I watched Tanny lead the ‘Waltz of the...

[20/50] Robert Maiorano, a former NYCB soloist was the first boy to play a soldier in Balanchine's Nutcracker in 1955 (before that it had...

[19/50] "Balanchine’s pas de deux is one of the greatest of all time, so elegant, so fluid. Dance on this level is intellect without...

[18/50] Maria Tallchief recalls watching Act 1 from the wings as she prepared to dance the Sugar Plum Fairy in Act 2: "Even from that...

[17/50] Suzanne Farrell on the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy: “She has all the authority. She is an elegant lady, beautiful and kind; and...

[16/50] "Victor Castelli was most impressive leading the Candy Canes, his brilliant jumps through the hoop in the coda being particularly...

[15/50] Of a 17-year-old Gelsey Kirkland, Clive Barnes wrote: “It is a special pleasure to see Miss Kirkland right now in the springtime...

[14/50] Beloved SAB teacher, Andrei (Krammy) Kramarevksy began performing the role of Drosselmeyer in 1978 (aged 49) and continued for 36...

[13/50] “Miss Verdy, all sweet French delicacy, is a charmer of a Sugar Plum” — Clive Barnes, New York Times, 1968 Violette Verdy and...

[11/50] Jacques was in Hollywood shooting Seven Brides for Seven Brothers when Balanchine choreographed the Nutcracker in 1954. He...

[12/50] In 1985, Jean-Pierre Frohlich recalled his early years in The Nutcracker to author Ellen Switzer: "When I danced the Nutcracker...

[10/50] Fun little fact... J.C. Penney's granddaughter went to SAB and was in the Nutcracker! Also, did you know J.C. Penney stands for...

[9/50] A review from the first season of Balanchine's The Nutcracker: “[Miss Adams] is not essentially a bravura dancer, and the Sugar...