The Nutcracker is back in NYC for 2022 and here's where to see it

This magical 1954 production, set to Tchaikovsky's incredible score, includes the full New York City Ballet company and two casts of School of American Ballet students, as well as an onstage blizzard and a Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 40 feet. In the end, however, Balanchine's choreography is what holds it all together. It's enchanting.

You’ll get a kick out of this holiday stalwart, which still features Santa, wooden soldiers and the dazzling Rockettes. In recent years, new music, more eye-catching costumes and advanced technology have been introduced to bring audience members closer to the performance. In the signature kick line that finds its way into most of the big dance numbers, the Rockettes’ 36 pairs of legs rise and fall like the batting of an eyelash, their perfect unison a testament to the disciplined human form. This is precision dancing on a massive scale—a Busby Berkeley number come to glorious life—and it takes your breath away.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Austin McCormick and his risqué neo-Baroque dance-theater group Company XIV present a lavish erotic reimagining of the classic holiday tale, complete with circus performers, operatic singers and partial nudity. The word nutcracker has customarily conjured innocent wonder; now be ready to add glitter pasties, stripper poles and comically large stuffed penises to the toys in wonderland. Definitely leave the kids at home.

Chiara Ajkun’s company continues its Face To Face Series with six performances of her own account of the holiday-ready Tchaikovsky ballet, danced in a sixth-floor studio space at New York City Center. The evening includes a postshow conversation with the artists. 

New York City Children's Theater goes nutty in a 50-minute interactive dance-theater version of the Tchaikovsky holiday staple, adapted for young audiences by Barbara Zinn Krieger and choreographed by Melissa Riker. The show is aimed at kiddies from ages 3 to 8.

As part of its Once Upon a Ballet series, which is aimed at young children, NYTB presents its annual hour-long Art Nouveau version of the holiday ballet, complete with clockwork elves and an owl that flies over the audience. The set design is by Gillian Bradshaw-Smith and the costumes by Sylvia Taalsohn Nolan.

Dances Patrelle offers its annual performance of The Yorkville Nutcracker, set in 1895 New York and featuring adorable child dancers alongside the professionals. This year's 26th edition features New York City Ballet soloist Miriam Miller as the Sugar Plum Fairy, joined this time by NYCB principal Jared Angle as her Cavalier.

Choreographer David Parker and his Bang Group reprise their neovaudevillian version of The Nutcracker, a comedic deconstruction of the holiday classic that mixes tap, ballet, contemporary dance and disco. The cast for this 20th annual production includes students from Steffi Nossen School of Dance and e.g. dance.

Brooklyn Ballet's take on The Nutcracker, choreographed by artistic director Lynn Parkerson, emphasizes cultural and artistic diversity. Alongside sequences that hew to the classic 19th-century tradition are interludes featuring street dance, flamenco, belly dancing, Chinese dance, hoop dance, hip-hop and—new for this year's edition—the Hopak, a traditional Ukrainian dance.

This production interprets the classic with hip-hop choreography and an updated version of the holiday story; directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber and adapted by Mike Fitelson, the production features onstage DJs, an amped-up version of the Tchaikovsky score and a short opening act by rap pioneer Kurtis Blow. 

The State Ballet Theater of Ukraine visits New Jersey with its 55-performer version of the beloved Tchaikovsky holiday classic for a single performance at NJPAC. The production, which was recently revised, features staging and choreography​ by Andrey Litvinov.       

American Liberty Ballet's annual twist on The Nutcracker preserves Tchaikovsky's score but sets the dreamlike action in New York City. The choreography is by Valerie Mae Browne; the company includes Allie Hutchins, Anastasia Federova, Giulia Cirulli and students from ALB’s academy.