Nutcracker Archives - shell chic'd

Color Story: The Nutcracker

December 12, 2024 by Emily Leave a Comment

A little navy + powder blue color story inspired by The Nutcracker’s The Snow Queen for you. For the rest of the season, take up to $40 off Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker or other performances using this link or code SHELLCHICD45.

Happy holidays! xx

navy holiday outfits; navy and powder blue color story

^{Photo by Brooke Trisolini, courtesy of Boston Ballet}

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What I Wore to The Nutcracker

December 9, 2022 by Emily Leave a Comment

It felt so good to return to Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker this year.

I’m convinced you’re all sitting there sweating in anticipation of a Thoughts I Had post, and I’m terribly sorry to disappoint, but this year I let myself just soak in the performance (here are some past years’, for sh*ts and giggles though). Summarized, my thoughts were:

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Something about this year’s performance feels especially fresh, and I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s a good thing.
Lia Cirio continues to prove herself as a higher power’s gift to the stage ❤️

And I got dressed for it! Because I figure, where else can one wear a powder blue tulle dress? Evidence needed to be recorded.

the daily edited monogrammed circle purse

Powder Blue Smocked Tulle Dress (a LINED Hill House tulle dress dupe!) | Sh*t That I Knit After Pardy Wrap | Grace & Grandeur Velvet Hair Bow | Similar Pearl Choker Necklace | Similar Pink Circle Purse | Pearl Studded Heels (fab Dolce Vita Noel dupe) |

Andddd since I forgot to take it off, my FitBit Luxe 🤷🏼‍♀️

Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker 2022 runs through December 31 at the Citizens Bank Opera House (with a special sensory-friendly performance that afternoon!), and tickets start at just $39. I will never be able to recommend this holiday tradition enough ❤️

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57 Thoughts I Had While Watching Boston Ballet Nutcracker 2019

December 6, 2019 by Emily Leave a Comment

And just like that, it’s December again. A year ago at this time I was desperately trying to come up with an excuse for why I was turning down some pre-show champagne and charcuterie (two of my main food groups), and now I’m frantically brushing my four-month-old’s spit up out of my just-washed-for-the-first-time-in-five-days hair. Cheers!

I’ve done some deep analyses of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker over the last half decade. Well researched not ironic at all insight on costumes, characters. This year, I’m running on sub 6 hours of sleep and a turkey hangover, so my stream of consciousness is truly the best you are going to get.

1. Interesanté, turns out there was a red + white attendee attire requirement for which I did not receive the memo.
2. But I’m wearing white and am permanently flushed so joke’s on them.
3. How is this also the second year in a row I’m sitting adjacent to someone wearing a velvet bodycon dress?
4. You just don’t forget that.
5. Is 1:28 in the afternoon REALLY too soon for champagne though?
6. I feel like this is a yolo opportunity .
7. Welp too late.
8. This Clara means business.
9. Truly never noticed that the sweeper was actually needed to clear the stage! Well done!
10. How has it taken me 25 years of watching this ballet to realize Clara and Wendy Moira Angela Darling might be the same person?

Clara photo by Angela Sterling, courtesy of Boston Ballet;
Wendy photo courtesy of Disney, I guess?

11. The party scene is my favorite scene and I cannot lie!!!!
12. The dads taking Fireball (I assume) shots in the corner will never not make me lol.
13. I’m normally all, hashtag feminism girls rule girl power I’m so sick of running as fast as I can wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man, but I do feel a teensy bit for these little bebe cutie boys who I imagine just aren’t getting the same amount of attention as their female coworkers.
14. And we must encourage male dancers from a young age!!!!
15. Granny and Gramps tryna hang is just next level adorable.
16. Wait,
17. Is Clara,
18, Gloating?
19. TAUNTING even?
20. She seems a little too smug in her showing off this shiny new toy.
21. Possibly unpopular opinion but COULD she have had it coming then?
22. Well now the whole squad’s got Nutcrackers when did this happen?
23. Special snowflakes.
24. (Kidding)
25. No no no, those littles boys couldn’t be carrying toy –
26. GUNS really guys seriously?!
27. God bless Bear still the strongest cast member on this stage every year I tell ya.
28. What is a normal reaction for the soloist who just found out they were cast as Bear?
29. Is it like an honor or a groan or is this a volunteer position?

Photo by Angela Sterling; courtesy of Boston Ballet

30. More rats this year!!
31. Is Mikko sitting there refreshing choreography and staging and is just like, yes, we need more rats this year.
32. Are they mice or rats?
33. Mouseeee King right right you’d think I’m new here.
34. Justice for Gingerbread Man!!
35. Is that a coconut Mouse King is ready to fight with or?
36. Lol remember when Nutcracker fashion had its moment
37. Baller grand jetés there team.
38. Are the reindeer actually pulling that sleigh or is this a trick?
39. Fresh Nutcracker y’all! Hel-lo Lasha!
40. Never realized there is some third wheeling going on here.
41. I know one of the 84 main rules of ballet is to be light on your feet but there is something so delicious about the sound of pointe shoes hitting the ground to me.
42. Murrr the littles are so cute I miss Eloise.
43. Does the Opera House have a mother’s room?
44. Feeling a little full suddenly.
45. Sorry but when did Nutcracker Prince change clothes?

Photo by Angela Sterling; courtesy of Boston Ballet

46. I would happily sit through an entire 2.5 hour performance of the Arabian dance alone.
47. Andddd somehow every new baby black sheep ends up cuter than the last.
48. Pastorale is basically just a 2-on-1 first made famous by The Bachelor™ franchise.
49. These Russians appear to be new and I’m skeptical.
50. One looks like Hugh Grant.
51. Where the actual hell are Isaac and Lawrence.
52. OK OK I take it back you have my seal of approval!
53. Honestly why would anyone ever pay $32 for a cycling class when they could just learn a fraction of the Russian choreography and be done with their workout for the entire week?
54. Entire month in my lazy ass case.
55. Everyone’s all high on Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy and ok rightfully so but shouldn’t Flower Queen also get a little more credit here?
I later confirm Flower Queen is actually Dew Drop. Who knew.
56. Aha you’re all clapping thinking it’s over but I know it’s not over.
57. You’re doing amazing sweeties. See ya next year!

At the time I’m writing this there are exactly 26 more performances of Boston Ballet’s The Nurcracker 2019 and you deserve to be at one! Learn more & get tickets here.

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Top 10 Boston Ballet Nutcracker Costumes, Ranked

December 18, 2018 by Emily Leave a Comment

Silk Camisole | Tartan Midi Skirt

Fashion was just reeeaaalllyy on my mind during this year’s annual viewing of Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker. Maybe it was all the outfits catching my eye as we found our way to our seats…the floor-length sage dress that was definitely purchased from a bridesmaid catalogue (you’ll wear it again!). A blood red fur jacket. A velvet suit alongside his lady’s velvet bodycon dress (flounce sleeves to class it up a bit). A child in elbow-length silk gloves and I kid you not a hair bow the literal size of her head. My 11th grade homecoming dress.

So I was already in a rather fashion police-y mood by the time the curtains opened and sweet little Clare-bear made her entrance. Alas, Nutracker costume designer Robert Perdziola offers me very little in the way of fashion faux pases (did I pluralize that correctly?) and instead only masterpieces to literally drool over.

Here are the top 10 Nutcracker costumes, ranked:

10. Nutcracker Prince | The gold-encrusted military jacket is impressive and all, but I’ve included NP here based solely on the expert flaunting of his white tights. Can you IMAGINE the winter white possibilities should non-sheer white leggings actually be available to the public? Robert: Where does one purchase these and are they having an after-Christmas sale?

9. Arabian Female | There are a number of reasons I am fiercely jealous of whoever gets to dance this part and they don’t all have to do with the insane sculpting of her abdomen. Rather, her wide-leg pants look like they must be made of silk butter and she gets to wear dangly gold earrings when in my entire dance career I never got to sport so much as a stud. Like I literally had to time the day I got my ears pierced around that year’s performances. Do you know what it’s like to be the only 10-year-old in suburban Pennsylvania who still doesn’t have her ears pierced? Do you really?

8. Spanish Females | Skirt twirl factor = 100.

7. Reindeer | Beside the fact that reindeer are just very in right now (you heard it here first), there’s a lot to unpack here. Silver antlers, studded pants, fur trim. Not an easy lewk to pull off, but these kids are working in.

6. Nutcracker Bear | Is it my personal style? Lol no. Does he wear the hell out of it? Undoubtedly.

Boston Ballet in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker; photo by Liza Voll, courtesy of Boston Ballet

5. Snowflakes | Because I have tried to make some version of this white tutu look work for the better part of the last 10 years and I have yet to nail it. Evidence.
(Also here.)
(Prime fashun blogging/overfiltering/creative titling days.)

4. Sugar Plum Fairy | While there is no shortage of titillating tutus in this performance, the Sugar Plum Fairy’s comes out on top, including but not limited to the fact that it contains over 3,600 jewels and Perdziola hand-tipped every SP tutu with gold paint. And I complained when I had to hand address a few Christmas cards.

3. Clara’s Outerwear | I truly have nothing witty to say about this beyond the fact that upon leaving the theater I immediately added “floor-length blue coat” and “faux fur muff” to my Christmas list.

2. Pages | Truth, I’m not sure if it’s really the outfits that get me here or just the fact that the baby pages are the cutest gosh darn creatures to ever grace the Opera House’s stage. Side note: This year’s Boston Ballet School students are more adorable than EVER.

1. Mother Ginger | You know how when you compliment a girl on her dress nine times out of ten her response is “thanks, it’s from TJ Maxx” or “thanks, it has pockets”? Mother Ginger is the only one who can up that with “thanks, it’s vintage and can hold 8 small children.”

Boston Ballet in Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker; photo by Liza Voll, courtesy of Boston Ballet

Voila, and congrats to all the winners.

Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker is playing at the Boston Opera House through December 30th – be there or be square! xx

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The 10 Most Underrated Characters in The Nutcracker

December 1, 2017 by Emily Leave a Comment

If you’ve come by looking for my annual stream of consciousness, I do apologize. While I continue to have many thoughts during all viewings of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, I figure there are only so many times you’re interested in hearing me question the hype over a wooden toy that cracks nuts and how lust-inducing the Russians are, despite all current political affairs.

This year I was sitting in on The Nutcracker’s dress rehearsal {such a treat!} and couldn’t help but think about all of the underrated characters that grace this stage every holiday season. Don’t get me wrong, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy are bae, but what about the underdogs?

Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet

10 // Bear
Despite being the face of this show, I fear Bear isn’t reeeally taken seriously as a dancer. Hey! You’ve got it easy – no pointe shoes! Just put on this 15-pound fur costume. Breathing and unobstructed vision are overrated anyway. Oh, and you have to pose for photos with crying children before and after every show.

9 // Fritz
Let’s be real, this kid is a turd, but he is adorable and funny as hell, made cuter by the fact that he seems to be completely unaware of such. His little nervous, sour face is irresistible, so we can temporarily forgive his desperate middle-child attention-demanding behavior.

8 // Russians # 2 and 3
True, this scene receives a standing ovation more times than not, but I can’t help but ache a little for the non-soloists in the back. They’re like Lance Bass and JC Chasez. Of course frontman Justin Timberlake is going to rock your world with his quintuple turn followed by 19 fouettes into 24 of whatever those jump things are, but I dare anyone else to attempt 3 seconds of their routine without breaking an ankle or inducing an asthma attack. These are not your average backup ~~singers~~ dancers.

Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet

7 // The Conductor
Beatrice Affron holds it down in her pit every. darn. show. with little to no regard. There is no double casting here!! HelLO audience, the show quite literally cannot go on without her unless you’re into silent films. Sure everyone applauds for the orchestra when prompted, but is that the best you got?

6 // Pages
Not only are these tiny children delightful on their own, but they deserve a round of applause for being sub-8-year-olds who have to stand on stage in character, in period clothing, for a large duration of a very long show.

5 // Baby Black Sheep
On that note, from the urchins to the reindeer, there are a lot of freaking cute children in this show, but the Black Sheep takes the cake. Every year, no question. I want to shake this kid’s hand.

4 // Mother Ginger’s Hair
That hair is the size of aforementioned Baby Black Sheep. Everyone is looking at her 50-lb skirt, but I am beyond impressed with the perfectly secured foot-and-a-half tall wig balancing a SHIP headpiece, no less, on it.

Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet

3 // Pastorale Man
WC Fields once warned, “never work with children or animals,” they’re scene stealing. Yet broseph here has to work with both, AS WELL AS juggle two women. I guarantee 97% of the audience’s attention is on the gals and sheep pals, but this guy always emerges as an A+ dancer who gets so little respect! Next time, give him a second look. I mean, he’s not sore on the eyes anyway.

2 // Ballerina Doll
I could watching this chick dance for far longer than the ~60 seconds or so she is given. Every year, no fail, I pout when her cute little robotic self is carried off stage. She must have a side hustle as a break dancer, no? It takes a certain rare skill set to pop and lock like that. Holler at me if you know anything.

1 // Grandmother & Grandfather
Do yourself a favor and tune out the entire party scene {sorry, everyone else} except Granny & Gramps next time you see this show. I don’t know if this is one of Mikko’s recent insertions of humor or what, but it took me until just last year to give them a second glance, and boy have I been missing out. They have DEF had one-too-many eggnogs and are getting all frisky and flirty to one another! The casting here really puts the wind in my sails.

Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker is running at The Boston Opera House through December 31, and tickets start at just $35. It has become my absolute favorite holiday tradition, and I couldn’t recommend this production and cast—ALL of them—more.

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40 Thoughts I Had While Watching Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, v. 2

December 7, 2016 by Emily 4 Comments

I’m about to celebrate my 28th Christmas. That means I’ve seen The Nutcracker, let’s say, give or take, 20 times.

…Not including all of the VHS tape showings I’ve sat through in years of teaching and taking dance lessons myself.

20-something times later, I still feel all the feels. It never gets old, and I never run out of ignorant and ridiculous reactions. So here you have it, forty thoughts that danced through my mind watching Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker 2016::

1. The chin-up bright-eyed the-world-is-my-oyster look of joy Delia Wada-Gill just offered the audience as she walked to center stage is the same look I get on my face when I walk into a doughnut shop and I hope she never forgets that feeling.
2. OOH chIIIIIlls at that first note GAME. ON.
3. EEEP the urchins are the cutest little munchkins e-v-e-r.
4. Just me or does Drosselmeier resemble Evan from The Bachelorette?
5. God I hope Evan and Carly are still together.
6. I am in literal tears over the fact that there is a biracial couple at this party SO BOSTON SO BEAUTIFUL.
7. The men all just took a shot together is that a new addition to the choreo or have I been missing this action all these years?
8. Grandmother is lookin’ DAMN good for her age.
9. The Ballerina Doll might be the most underrated character of this entire ballet.
10. Welp another year another failed attempt to get this audience up for the standing ovation that Bear solo deserved.
11. God a nutcracker is SUCH a weird gift I can’t get over it.
12. Must have been the Hatchimal of 1816?
13. Is the tree growing or are we shrinking? Asking for a friend.
14. I know the rats are not very likable but can we all take a moment to appreciate how hard their job is?
15. You do realize that’s the same level as playing like Captain Hook or Jafar in Disney World right?
16. You have to be an amazing performer while wearing a fake head four times the size of your own sweating buckets and maintaining composure all while being booed by the audience.
17. GINGERBREAD MAN!!!
18. You are my favorite and I feel the same sort of affection toward you as I know many feel about Li’l Sebastian.
19. Snow Queen SLAY she is f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s.
20. Not sure if I’m just more in tune to it now or if it’s a commentary on current events but this pas de deux is giving off a serious feminist vibe and I am digging IT #girlpower
21. I just want this to be my life.
22. Would I really want this life?
23. You’d, like, never be available for Christmas parties.
24. No it’d be worth it.
25. But like, spiked hot chocolate.
26. Worth it still want this life.

27. My vote for the most impressive thing in this show really should be the number of pirouettes Misa Kuranaga can do or how flexible Lia Cirio is but I really cannot stop thinking about how flawlessly that crown goes onto Clara’s head and how it’s able to stay there for the next 45 minutes.
28. If I am so lucky as to have a son he will be forced into ballet for the sole purpose of becoming one of these adorable baby guards one day.
29. The Spanish set looks like the most fun double date ever.
30. Why do we never discuss the Arabian set’s precious baby snake charmers who sit so politely and patiently on the side?
31. I’m feeling slightly uncomfortable and I’m not sure if it’s because of the eerie music or looking at her abs while acknowledging the amount of pumpkin pie I just ate.
32. This is goals.
33. Starting a Change.org petition to lengthen the Chinese set.
34. TheRussiansaremyfavoritepartofthisentireshowI’msorrynotsorryIcan’tdenyityou’reallbeautiful.
35. BLACK SHEEP BLACK SHEEP I want to snuggle you!!!
36. Waltz of the Flowers SOGOOD right now is it always this good?
37. Ashley Ellis you are Hilary Duff in A Cinderella Story.
38. Forget the rats, pretty sure the most difficult role of this entire show is that of the soldier who has to stand guard for virtually half of this act and is played by what must be an 8-year-old boy aka the most impatient age and gender combination of all time.
39. The Grand Pas de Deux is a literal dance-off and how have I never noticed that before?
40. Misa def just mic-dropped.

Where can you too indulge in The Nutcracker Boston friends? Mikko Nissinen’s adaptation will be playing at the Boston Opera House through December 31st, and tickets start at just $35 {#stockingstuffer}. Forgive me for being blunt, but you will regret not making time for this production.

Photos by Liza Voll, courtesy of Boston Ballet

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Full disclosure:: I was provided with two complimentary tickets to The Nutcracker
for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have
attended Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker in many years past, unsponsored.

40 Thoughts I Had While Watching Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker

December 4, 2015 by Emily 4 Comments

Since you all seemed to have a good laugh [or eye roll] at my starred “review” of their production of Mahler’s Third earlier this fall, I’m back to share my thoughts on Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker 2015. My favorite of all Christmas-in-Boston traditions [though the Santa Speedo Run isn’t far behind.]

1. This Clara casting is on POINT(E).*
2. My dream is to one day be one of these Christmas Eve party guests.
3. Not, like, as a dancer. Like as an actual guest.
4. It’s a strange year if my family wears anything other than pajamas as we sit around on Christmas Eve.
5. May these boys please never realize that they are too cool for ballet.
6. Hey! Rachel Cossar!
7. Can you imagine a more dreamy job that half professional ballet dancer/half food blogger?

8. Whoever said the character Clara doesn’t dance much was seriously disturbed.
9. She is nailing those doubles and then some.
10. This bear can dance better than I will ever be able to. Wearing a costume that probably weighs as much as he does.
11. And that bear did not receive the standing ovation it should have.
12. Has anyone ever thought about how a nutcracker is sort of a random gift for a child?
13. I mean yes, it is a BEAUTIFUL doll too.
14. But when I was a kid if my dolls had special features it was like they could actually wet their diapers or spit stickers out of their stomach, not crack nut shells.
15. There is probably some 1800s German cultural history behind this that I should look up for context.
16. Sometimes I trip while dancing after drinking too, nanny.

17. But HOW do they make that tree grow like that?!
18. Two decades of watching Nutcracker performances and I still don’t get it.
19. I hate when ten-year-olds’ grand jetes are better than mine.
20. The rats are hands down the funniest characters in this ballet.
21. Like, rivaling Mother Ginger funny.
22. Who do you think is cuter– the baby rats, reindeer, or Gingerbread Man?
23. Ugh definitely those reindeer and their shuffling.
24. Why doesn’t it snow glitter when I emerge from my apartment each day?
25. I think my mom is crying.
26. Just realized I’ve been holding my breath through the entire snow scene.

27. Ok, I take that back, the little guards are now the cutest.
28. Can we get an encore on the Chinese performance?!?
29. Too short!
30. But ok, here comes my favorite part.

31. Those Russians though.
32. Not sore on the eyes either.
33. Is breakdancing customary in Russian dance?
34. I TAKE IT BACK AGAIN THE BABY SHEEP TRUMP ALL IN CUTENESS.
35. NO, THE BABY BLACK SHEEP!!!

36. The Waltz of the Flowers is so dreamy.
37. But I can’t help but stress thinking about that scene in The Little Rascals.
38. I never want this to end.
39. The Nutcracker ending is as sad as taking the Christmas tree down.
[trips out of seat while standing to applaud]
40. What a way to end an evening all about the grace of the human body.

All photos courtesy of The Boston Ballet

The Nutcracker features the full company, plus 11 Boston Ballet II members and 217 students! It runs now through December 31st. and tickets start at just $35. A purchase you won’t regret. MJF took me to Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker for our first Christmas together, and you can bet that sealed the deal.

*This performance featured Delia Wada-Gill as Clara!

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A Day at the Ballet

December 8, 2014 by Emily Leave a Comment

Maybe my favorite of ALL Christmas traditions? Blame it on the dancer in me, but it’s one hundred percent going to see The Nutcracker in Boston. An indulgence that’s a bit difficult to do every year, which makes it even more of a treat when it does happen.