dirac

I saw it tonight in socially distanced circumstances. There are decisions I disagreed with and criticisms to make, but this is an excellent movie that should be seen in a theater if possible. If this had been directed by someone forty years younger he'd be the hottest thing on the block, weak box office or not. Overall, pleasantly surprised and at the end I was moved, which didn't happen for me with the old movie.

Kourlas is fortunate to work for one of the remaining publications that isn't yet a slave to clicks - which is why it still hires dance critics. While I take your point, I think it unlikely, however, that this article would have qualified as clickbait regardless of whether it was published a week earlier or later. I'm afraid I rolled my eyes when I read that. I may change my mind after seeing the movie, but a dream ballet, which had become a hoary staple of prestige musicals by the time of the original film of WSS, never mind this one - would be a truly terrible idea, and I imagine Robbins and Wise had reasons for not doing it.

American Ballet Theatre dancers perform at the White House.

A TV interview with Angela Watson, currently appearing in San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker.

Cincinnati Ballet's Nutcracker plays its last performance this weekend.

Probably this piece has been in the works for awhile. However, I would hope that the status of "box-office dud" doesn't disqualify a movie from critical attention. Peck is a prominent young choreographer and this was a major commission. Naturally Kourlas would want to write about it and I'm glad she works for a publication that will give her the space. A reasonable point. I think there is an audience, and generally around this time of year Hollywood does release one "big musical," but it's going to be tougher.

Others have wondered the same, including me upthread, but I would say the audience in non-COVID circumstances would be, in the main, families and older people, mainly women, who would come out because they remember the old movie and know Spielberg's name, and people who would be influenced by the great reviews (who would also skew older). As pointed out upthread, these are the people most likely to be spooked by the virus. Not much anyone could do about that.

Columbia Dance, likewise.

Galina Samsova has died at age 84.

Shanghai Ballet presents its Nutcracker.

A review of the Sarasota Ballet by Marina Harss for DanceTabs.

A review of New Adventures' Nutcracker by Graham Watts for Bachtrack.

A look back at the year in dance by Lynette Halewood for DanceTabs.

Reviews of the English National Ballet's Nutcracker. DanceTabs The Jewish Chronicle

Reviews of the English National Ballet's Nutcracker. Bachtrack The Times Broadway World

A review of the English National Ballet's Nutcracker by Rosemary Waugh for i. Peter Salter's review in The Daily Express.

Tamara Rojo talks about English National Ballet's new "Raymonda."

An interview with Cincinnati Ballet's retiring artistic director, Victoria Morgan.

A look at Nutcracker over the years by Louise Levene in The Spectator.

An interview with Justin Peck on creating the dances in the remake of "West Side Story" by Sarah L. Kaufman in The Washington Post.

A New York City Ballet Nutcracker photo gallery, featuring Emilie Gerrity.

New Jersey Ballet presents its Nutcracker.

The National Ballet of Canada cancels its remaining Nutcrackers.

Texas Ballet Theater cancels its remaining Nutcracker performances.

A surge in COVID-19 cases leads to holiday show cancellations.