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Arts & Culture

Live From Lincoln Center: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker

New York City Ballet dancer as The Nutcracker.
Courtesy of ©Paul Kolnik
New York City Ballet dancer as The Nutcracker.

Airs Friday, December 16, 2011 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

Live from Lincoln Center returns to the New York City Ballet for "George Balanchine's The Nutcracker," live from David H. Koch Theater.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, "Balanchine’s Nutcracker" features New York City Ballet’s entire roster of more than 150 dancers and musicians, as well as two alternating casts of 50 children from the School of American Ballet, the New York City Ballet’s official school.

In addition to Balanchine’s choreography, the seminal work features scenery by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, costumes by Karinska and lighting by Mark Stanley, after the original design by Ronald Bates.

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The live television broadcast will be hosted by School of American Ballet board member Chelsea Clinton, who danced several roles in the ballet with Ballet Arkansas from 1985-1992 and then the Washington Ballet from 1993-1996.

In a Lincoln Center first, the program will also bring the holiday classic to service men and women around the world via a Christmas Eve re-broadcast on the American Forces Network.

Live From Lincoln Center is on Facebook, can you can follow @LiveFromLC on Twitter.

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Watch NYC Ballet Nutcracker Promo on PBS. See more from pbs.

This is the production that is the heart of New York City's year-end holiday season. From the moment the lights dim, you will be transported to a magical place filled with adorable children, marching toy soldiers, a glowing one-ton Christmas tree that seemingly grows forever, mischievous mice, crystalline waltzing snowflakes, the Land of Sweets and some of the most glorious dancing on earth.