Nutcracker season is almost here! Here at Ballet Theatre of Maryland, it's an exciting year: on Sunday, November 23, we premiere our all-new production of The Nutcracker. Putting on a new Nutcracker is an exciting accomplishment for any ballet company. Although premiering any production reflects a huge commitment of time and resources, The Nutcracker is often a company's biggest and most complex show between sets, costumes, and technical demands.

When people describe ballet dancers, they often use words like "hard-working" or "diligent." This is true not only when we're dancing, but also when we have some time on our hands! When we're not participating in a rehearsal, you'll often find us going over choreography or practicing some cross-training. For a number of BTM dancers, you may even find them working on a quiet handicraft!

As the company takes a well-earned break between Giselle and our upcoming performances of The Nutcracker, things are still busy at the BTM studios. A small group of BTM students is hard at work preparing for the National Ballet Competition this February.

As rehearsals continue for our upcoming performances of Giselle on October 17-19, we are beginning to see the full shape of the ballet emerge. One of our more recent blog posts delved into the history, story, and notable moments in Giselle, but there's no substitute for watching the ballet come together right before your eyes.