Behind the scenes of the ever-enchanting Nutcracker

Ballerinas, choreographers, makeup artists, and designers prepare for the magic of a time-honored holiday tradition

A ballet dancer puts on her shoes while sitting on a stage behind the curtain before Nacho Duato's "The Nutcracker" at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.
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(Image credit: A ballet dancer puts on her shoes while sitting on a stage behind the curtain before Nacho Duato's The Nutcracker at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.)

(Image credit: A ballet dancer leaps during a rehearsal of The Nutcracker choreographed by Nacho Duato (whose photo decorates the wall) at the Mikhailovsky Theatre.)

(Image credit: Ballet dancer Mario Labrador stretches in a hallway.)

(Image credit: A seamstress prepares a costume.)

(Image credit: A ballet dancer watches from backstage during a rehearsal.)

(Image credit: Principal dancer Ivan Zaytsev gets his makeup done before performing.)

(Image credit: Anastasia Soboleva, first soloist, chooses her pointe shoes for practice.)

(Image credit: Ballet dancers perform in Nacho Duato's The Nutcracker.)

(Image credit: Ballet soloist Valeria Zapasnikova and principal dancer Leonid Sarafanov perform in Nacho Duato's The Nutcracker.)

Jackie Friedman
Jackie Friedman

Jackie Friedman is the assistant photo editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the photojournalism program at Kent State University and now lives in New York.

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