Peace & harmony: 'Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet' national tour brings elite dancers, holiday tradition to Kiva Auditorium

Thirty-one years.

This is the amount of time that Talmi Entertainment has been staging its North America tour of “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet.”

The beloved family tradition brings together some of the world’s most world-renowned ballet virtuosos.

The traveling show will make a stop at Kiva Auditorium on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

“This is the most exciting time of year,” says Jocelyn Guelce, Talmi Entertainment marketing director. “We start planning the next season in about a year and a half. Routing and logistics takes about six months to complete.”

Guelce says the 2023 production showcases a record number of international talent, starring principal dancers from the great opera houses of Ukraine and 40 world-class artists from Japan, Italy, Turkey and more.

“This year holds exciting surprises as it introduces a fresh character and incorporates innovative new choreography that blends classical ballet with cutting-edge circus techniques,” she says. One of the highlights is the inclusion of a talented Cyr Wheel artist, adding an intriguing element to the performance.

“The international scale of the production is truly unique. With artistic direction from the birthplace of classical ballet in Kyiv, Ukraine, to rising ballet capitals around the world, we have built a world-class team,” says Dan Talmi, executive producer of Talmi Entertainment and the son of co-founders Mary Giannone and Akiva Talmi. “It has become a holiday tradition in households across the country and our team works year round to give audiences the best of everything.”

Peace & harmony: 'Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet' national tour brings elite dancers, holiday tradition to Kiva Auditorium

The 2023 production stars Ukrainian ballerinas Karyna Shatkovskaya and Olena Pecheniuk as Clara.

The Nutcracker Prince is danced by Batur Buklu from Turkey, and the esteemed Rustem Imangaliyev from Kazakhstan.

Guelce says this is also the only production in which Act II takes place in the “Land of Peace and Harmony” and features “Doves of Peace.”

“ ‘Doves of Peace’ features two dancers who come together to form a larger-than-life dove with a 20-foot wingspan that guides Clara and the Nutcracker Prince through the dreamscape of Dancing Snowflakes to the Prince’s home, the Land of Peace and Harmony, where there are no wars and no children suffer,” she says. “In the 2023 production, an exciting addition to ‘The Nutcracker’ story is the introduction of a new character called The Herald. Representing the spirit of the forest, The Herald plays a vital role in the narrative by announcing the arrival of our heroes and leading a joyous celebration in Clara’s honor.”