Nutcracker Takes Center Stage
- Alexis Rand
- Jan 4
- 2 min read
The Charlotte Ballet Academy has staged The Nutcracker at the Belk Theater in Uptown Charlotte all throughout the month of December every year since 2006. The Nutcracker is a widely performed ballet based on a fictional story in which Clara, a young girl, falls asleep on Christmas Eve and dreams of a magical adventure.
The Nutcracker is a massive phenomenon in the ballet world. Choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, it originated in 1892 at the St. Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since then, ballet companies around the world have showcased their renditions. The Charlotte performance includes live music performed by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, adding more depth and drama to the show.
The Charlotte Ballet Academy consists of both adults and students who participate in this production. A junior at Charlotte Catholic, Erik Vazquez-Kew, plays the lead mouse in the famous battle scene against the Nutcracker. Erik joined the Charlotte Ballet four years ago, following his time with Eastern Shore Ballet Theater where he performed the roles of Fritz, a mouse, a soldier, and a baker.
The company prepares months in advance to deliver one of the most classic Christmas programs there is. The academy stages 20 full-scale shows during December at Belk Theater. The Charlotte Ballet also has smaller companies that run five performances at Southpark Mall. The larger shows have around 2,000 people in attendance for each showing, making the performance one of Charlotte’s largest holiday attractions. For the larger production, there are 24 dress rehearsals in preparation, while the smaller companies hold about two.
Among these shows, there is an altered, sensory-friendly version offered on select days so that sensitive viewers have a chance to enjoy the dance. This adapted version does not include the photosensitive war scene, which features flashing lights, strobes, and sudden stage movements. The academy also accommodates students on December 10 and 17 with school-day matinees, offering students the chance to experience the magic of ballet.
The Nutcracker has become a beloved holiday tradition in Charlotte, drawing in families each Christmas season and cementing its place as one of the city’s most cherished cultural events.
