A Holiday Tradition for the Whole Family

This holiday season, Tampa City Ballet brings The Nutcracker to life with a fresh theatrical vision inspired by the wonder of the 19th-century magic lantern, the invention that brought illuminated images and stories to life long before the movies.

When the mysterious Drosselmeyer arrives with his magic lantern, Clara discovers that the images inside are more than pictures. They become extraordinary worlds filled with color, music and movement, taking audiences on a journey through one of the most beloved holiday stories of all time.

At the heart of the production is Tampa City Ballet, Tampa's professional ballet company, joined onstage by a multigenerational cast of children, teens and adults from throughout Tampa Bay. Auditions were open to dancers across the region, bringing together performers from the Tampa City Ballet School and the greater Tampa Bay dance community to perform alongside TCB’s professional artists.

The result professional artists sharing the stage with the next generation of dancers, performers of different ages and backgrounds coming together, and families from across our community becoming part of the tradition.

Whether it’s your child’s first professional ballet production or The Nutcracker has been part of your family’s holidays for years, this is a chance to experience the tradition in an entirely new way.

Step Into the Magic.