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.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FDikXFriMCso3frmG3fTQB-415-80.jpg)
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![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E6jfmMq62JGiFa4q4ukU97-415-80.jpg)
(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.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tUz9NEgEjghYTSzv7PssnY-415-80.jpg)
(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.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuRykpcFHUXuE248EzAqmC-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: Ballet dancer Mario Labrador stretches in a hallway.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MmZmb6poEMhCmufnFGzA6Q-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: A seamstress prepares a costume.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P7Q8ovSLhKZGfYY6NcPfC6-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: A ballet dancer watches from backstage during a rehearsal.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RNTH4FUPJiajyrQxEnVrwH-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: Principal dancer Ivan Zaytsev gets his makeup done before performing.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u6n5KUynXiXLqkrJCHMEzH-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: Anastasia Soboleva, first soloist, chooses her pointe shoes for practice.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jtwbC8jTUXvMvguKHKEC75-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: Ballet dancers perform in Nacho Duato's The Nutcracker.)
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/exbQFtPiv7RyTgXHhqvaxF-415-80.jpg)
(Image credit: Ballet soloist Valeria Zapasnikova and principal dancer Leonid Sarafanov perform in Nacho Duato's The Nutcracker.)
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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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