The Nutcracker: The Kirov Ballet

The Nutcracker (Casse-Noisette) performed by the Kirov Ballet at the Mariinsky Theater (1994)

The Nutcracker ballet is a hard one to compare to others because they can be so diverse in terms of age, casting, the story, props, costumes etc. But the dancing in this performance is top-notch, which is to be expected from the Kirov Ballet. My own personal preference though is seeing children dance the roles of soldiers and mice, which is not done in this performance. Nevertheless, the Nutcracker is danced beautifully by the Kirov Ballet. Larissa Lezhnina plays “Masha/The Princess” also known as Clara or Marie and Victor Baranov dances the Nutcracker/The Prince.