THE NUTCRACKER | Arabian Dance Extended Clip

Get an extended look at Principal Dancers Lia Cirio and Lasha Khozashvili performing the sultry Arabian Dance from Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker.

Video by Ernesto Galan

[thefreckledcormarant]

It amazes me how the Nutcracker has some of the best-known tunes of all time, and yet also contains this piece, with a melody so mysterious and elusive you can’t get it in your head, no matter how many times you listen. It suggests the Frankincense and Myrrh of the Magi to me, and confirms Tchaikovsky is master of the catchy AND uncatchy tune. And done full justice by the dancers. Wonderful.

[matthielijbaart]

wow, refreshing to see professional ballet done on flats! the art of ballet is not only about dancing on pointe.

[lindaclark]

This is without a doubt the best Arabian dance I’ve ever seen. What a wonderful performance.

[johnl]

Lia and Lasha are such timeless, perfectly matched partners, from at least 2013 onwards. much like Margot and Rudolf.

[robinist]

An absolutely gorgeous version of this most haunting piece by Tchaikovsky. Lia is so strong, lithe, sensual and stunningly beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[candorablecando]

I remember in high school band we played a piece called “The Nutcracker Suite” and it had the more well-known melodies, but when we came to this song, it fascinated me. I had not seen the ballet but I knew something mysterious must be happening during this part of the story. The music is so rich and evocative. It’s still my favorite melody in The Nutcracker. 🎶 🩰

[KylinBrady]

Love that they are normal sized and not anorexic. I had a long career in dance and ballet and this is a great video of now to show real dancers of real sizes performing strongly and confidently well. So beautiful!!

[Erin-elgi]

2:44, 2:55, wow wow wow, this was absolutely incredible, and this music just never gets old

[ArtArtsSakeVideo]

Wow. I've probably seen 10 or 12 different Nutcrackers over many decades of Christmas seasons. That was an absolutely superb variation: so much control, so much expression. Brava! Bravo!

[johnkay]

This performance is OUTSTANDING! I've seen the Nutcracker 17 times in Toronto....this is with out a doubt. The BEST performance I've seen.

[squigg]

This is definitely my favorite choreo and performance of this piece I’ve seen yet. It’s intoxicating.

[chrystalzhou]

Watching these dances, it's really like drinking arabian coffee! The strength of it all, the way you can feel the conversation between the two chracters!! Well done!!

[ambermarie]

There is just something I love so much about Arabian. It always just makes my jaw drop watching it. They make it look so easy. It’s so mysterious and beautiful I just love it! Amazing job😊

[harrw]

I play clarinet and enjoy classical music. Not much of a ballet aficionado. However, this display just was so sophisticated, so smooth, it just made my day.

[naturequeene]

Such an evocative, dark, rich and stunningly gorgeous musical composition, choreography and performance. Brings back memories of my childhood when my parents would play the Nutcracker soundtrack at Christmas time.

[saliadee]

Wow what a great partnership. They jump together so beautifully because they are similarly proportioned. Love the way he spends most of his time looking at her rather than the audience. A very focused, supportive partner. He really helps her to shine.

[sherrybirchall]

I am obsessed with this dance. It's so beautiful. The first time I saw The Nutcracker, it was a local production, and this dance was done as a sensuous solo by an uncharacteristically curvaceous dancer. It was mesmerizing, and I am watching every performance of this dance I can find. So many wonderful versions, but none as beautiful as that first with that gorgeous dancer.

[margareteast]

Beautiful! Difficult work done with grace and apparent ease. Ethereal!

[CSUnger]

If only all of mankind had applied at least a modicum of the dedication, discipline, and patient endurance it required to achieve that level of performance in just being a decent human being; what a world this could have been.

[davidnash]

Four and a half minutes of exquisite perfection ! What a joy to have come across it and you two are magnificent !