KDH was thrilled to recently attend George Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center Plaza. Our gorgeous friend Annie invited my stepdaughter Lily and I to attend the Nutcracker Family Benefit last weekend with her family.  Getting dressed up to go see the Nutcracker during the holiday season in New York City is one of the most idyllic things one can do~ and this year’s performance was full of enchantment!

The School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet join together each December to co-host The Nutcracker Family Benefit. This festive family event includes a Saturday matinee performance of the holiday classic George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ followed by lunch and a visit from Santa. The ballet performance features dozens of young students from the School who, along with the adult cast members, join party goers to sign autographs and pose for pictures at the holiday party with special guests from the production.

Julia Koch, Joyce Giuffra, and Elizabeth G. Miller were the chairs of the charming event, and proceeds raised by The Nutcracker Family Benefit support the School’s scholarship fund and NYCB’s education and outreach programs.

Lucky Lily and I were invited backstage after the ballet with our group to see the dreamy sets, costumes, and meet the principal dancers of the Nutcracker. We bumped into Albert Evans, who was a dancer with NYCB for over 20 years and now oversees the Pas de Deux performance. Albert whisked us upstairs for a sneak peek of the rehearsal room where the dancers train. It was so neat to see all of the backstage machinations of this fantastic production.

*Hope you like my photo diary below, and make it to see the Nutcracker this holiday season: