Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker (The Royal Ballet)

Lauren Cuthbertson performs the famous Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, set to Tchaikovsky's iconic score.

Peter Wright’s nigh-on definitive production for The Royal Ballet ranks as one of the most enduring and enchanting versions of The Nutcracker. With its festive period setting, dancing snowflakes and enchanting stage magic, Lev Ivanov’s 1892 ballet has become the perfect Christmas entertainment, with Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous, sugar-spun music the most recognizable of all ballet scores.

Loosely based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, the ballet opens with the lively Christmas party that is hosted by the Stahlbaum family, its Victorian setting captured in opulent detail by Julia Trevelyan Oman’s designs. Wright’s choreography ingeniously incorporates surviving fragments of the ballet’s original material, including the sublime pas de deux for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. But in emphasizing the relationship between Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, the production also gains a touching subtext of first love.

[RoyalBalletAndOpera]

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[EvelynH]

She’s the little ballerina that pops out from your jewelry box

[MarelisaFabrega]

That sweet, bell-like sound with an ethereal quality is made by an instrument called the celesta. It transports you to a fantastical, magical world.

[choryllis]

I'm so sad Tchaikovsky thought he did a bad job with this. It transports me to another realm whenever I hear it. I hope that, whatever afterlife he's in, he's able to see how much we love it and how much we love him for making this.

[dasampaguita]

im the only one suddenly gets interested in ballet for no reason

[tkcjldz]

When trying to sneak down the stairs without your parents hearing you

[iknowexactlywhoyouare]

Tchaikovsky thinking that he failed this ballet brings me tears because I haven't heard anything better than this in my whole life. I guess all of the great artists in the literary, art, and music world have had the tendency to think they're a failure.

[munelinmusic]

She must have dedicated her life to training for these 2 minutes and 30 seconds. It's truly remarkable to be able to watch this for free at home. Appreciate her perfect solo dancing!

[Guidussify]

Me: "That looks easy".

Doctor 2 hours later: "You'll have to wear this boot for 6 weeks".

[sophbaily]

Ballet is the most beautiful form of dance on earth

[POPOPOPOPOPOP]

If my concert soloing experience is any indication, she must not have had many opportunities to practice with the orchestra. Yet she still matches up with the music beautifully. It’s incredible how perfectly she controls her body.

[caitlinherman]

She looks weightless like the floor is made of glass. What a beautiful performance 👏

[gemmm]

I hate it when people underestimate ballet, it takes so much strength to do this yet you have to smile and look graceful

[abbie]

The discipline these girls go through to attain this level of perfection must be excruciatingly painful but, the end result is delightful to watch. They should be so proud of themselves.

[roadrailer]

The strength, coordination, beauty, and sheer determination of this woman. Deserves great admiration. Applause upon applause.

[nialei]

I feel like. Am the only one that just loves ballet out of nowhere.

[jenniferl.]

Let’s appreciate the awesome orchestra too. They have to go through a lot of shows, especially during the Christmas season

[russiandollie]

It's like she's barely touching the ground, like she's walking on clouds. It takes so much effort to walk lightly OR do ballet but to do both simultaneously, like doing ballet and making it look so effortless is MIND BLOWING

[PEACEinYESHUA-ojvcpkw]

Ever since I was a little girl I loved ballet and this is one of my favourites! Just the music and the way the dancer appears to effortlessly float across the stage making it look so easy. Absolutely beautiful! The music and everything about this is so good and it always gave me goosebumps from a young age ❤

[rubyofdawn]

This may sounds odd but i imagine this is how powdered sugar dusted on sweet pastries would look like in dance form, so soft and light. Well done