Heather Ogden in The Nutcracker, 2019. Ogden has been performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for more than 20 years, continuing to this very day. Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada
If any stage production can be considered a fixture of the holiday season, it’s The Nutcracker. The National Ballet of Canada’s version, celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, has had an impressive run over the years – solidifying itself as a beloved annual tradition that consistently charms audiences and sells out at the box office.
Choreographed by James Kudelka, the Tchaikovsky-scored production’s costumes and props cost $2.7-million to create in 1995. The rendition, featuring 233 performers, including 98 ballet students, is unique in everything from its Broadway-calibre sets and costumes (designed by Santo Loquasto) to its two child protagonists to its Imperial Russia setting.
Choreographer James Kudelka watching early rehearsals with set and costume designer Santo Loquasto, 1995. Bryce Duffy/The National Ballet of Canada
Kudelka’s version features more children, animal characters, whimsy, drama and humour than most others (and don’t forget the nearly eight-metre tall Fabergé egg). The result is a production that, three decades after its premiere, is still considered one of the best in the world.
As the NBoC celebrates 30 years of Kudelka’s Nutcracker, with performances running until Dec. 31, here are 30 milestones that illustrate the history, success and staying power of this holiday tradition.
The production's first Marie and Misha, Warren Benns and Susan McElhinney, with Victoria Bertram and Jeremy Ransom as Baba and Uncle Nikolai, 1995. Lydia Pawelak/The National Ballet of Canada
1. Dec. 21, 1995 – James Kudelka’s Nutcracker premieres
The NBoC performed Celia Franca’s more traditional staging of The Nutcracker from 1964 to 1994. Former artistic director Reid Anderson then convinced Kudelka, who danced in Franca’s version as a nine-year-old student at the National Ballet School, to stage his own version.
Kudelka in the creation process, rehearsing students from Canada’s National Ballet School, 1995. Cylla von Tiedemann/The National Ballet of Canada
2. 1995 – The rendition is hailed as “the best Nutcracker on the planet” by The Globe and Mail
Upon its premiere, Kudelka’s Nutcracker was an immediate success. Critics and audiences praised its impressive choreography, costumes and sets, with The Globe calling it the best in the world.
3. 1996 – James Kudelka is named artistic director of the NBoC
After the immediate success of his Nutcracker production, Kudelka was appointed as artistic director of the NBoC when Anderson resigned. Kudelka served in the role until 2005.
Elena Lobsanova in The Nutcracker, 1998. Lydia Pawelak/The National Ballet of Canada.
4. 1999 – The longest running cannon doll, Global TV’s Susan Hay, makes her debut
In Franca’s Nutcracker, celebrity guests were invited on stage to play the roles of stretcher bearers. Kudelka created his own version of this tradition by inviting celebrities to play Russian dolls who fire confetti cannons into the audience. The longest-running cannon doll, Susan Hay, continues her 23-year record run as a cannon doll this year.
5. 1999 – VIVA Singers Toronto make their debut
In the same year that the organization was founded, VIVA Singers Toronto became the official children’s choir of the NBoC’s Nutcracker, singing during the snow scene in every performance.
6. 2001 – Original Peter/The Nutcracker Rex Harrington dances his final performance One of Canada’s most acclaimed male dancers, Rex Harrington, played Peter/The Nutcracker from 1995 until 2001. Today, he continues to serve as the production’s rehearsal director and principal coach.
Rex Harrington and Marine Lamy, the original Peter/The Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Fairy, dancing in the first performance of The Nutcracker, 1995. David Street/The National Ballet of Canada.
7. 2001 – The Nutcracker tours to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre
In all its years of performances, the NBoC’s Nutcracker toured just once – to Ottawa’s NAC.
8. 2001 – Principal dancer Heather Ogden makes her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy
Heather Ogden has been performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for more than 20 years, continuing to this very day.
9. 2005 – Artistic director emerita Karen Kain publishes her Nutcracker storybook
Karen Kain, a former principal dancer with the NBoC and chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, published a children’s book telling the unique story of Kudelka’s Nutcracker.
10. 2005 – The original Sugar Plum Fairy, Martine Lamy, retires
Martine Lamy retired after originating the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy alongside Harrington and spending two decades as principal dancer with the NBoC.
11. 2006 – The Nutcracker has its first performance in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
For the first 10 years, Nutcracker performances took place at Meridian Hall. The production later moved to the Four Season Centre for the Performing Arts, which is custom-designed for ballets and operas.
12. 2008 – The first Cineplex livestream of The Nutcracker takes place
The Nutcracker was live streamed on screen for the first time in 2008. It has been shown again and again in the following years, including when performances were cancelled owing to the pandemic.
Siphesihle November in The Nutcracker. Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada
13. 2010 – Principal dancer Siphesihle November makes his debut as Misha
Siphesihle November made his debut as Misha while a student at Canada’s National Ballet School, then returned 11 years later to play the role of Peter/The Nutcracker. He is currently the only dancer who has performed both roles.
14. 2011 – Former principal dancer Elena Lobsanova breaks “the curse of Marie,” becoming the first dancer to perform the roles of Marie and the Sugar Plum Fairy
For 15 years, no dancer who performed the role of Marie had ever gone on to become the Sugar Plum Fairy; this was dubbed “the curse of Marie.” Elena Lobsanova broke that “curse” after performing Marie while a student at Canada’s National Ballet School and returning as the Sugar Plum Fairy in 2011.
15. 2011 – Principal dancer from London’s Royal Ballet Steven McRae, who also danced the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the North American premiere, appears as Peter/The Nutcracker
Australian-born McRae was a guest artist in The Nutcracker in 2011 and received rave reviews for his performance.
16. 2011 – Mayor Rob Ford appears as a cannon doll
Infamous Toronto mayor Rob Ford appeared as a colourfully dressed cannon doll in 2011, generating plenty of media attention.
Swimmer Summer McIntosh as a Cannon Doll. Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada
17. 2017 –The Nutcracker hits a major milestone with a total of one million people having attended the holiday tradition
Today, that number is at 1.3 million and counting.
18. 2017 – The number of celebrity cannon dolls who have fired the cannon to begin the battle scene hits 1,000
Notable cannon doll cameos over the years include Margaret Atwood, Chris Hadfield, Auston Matthews, Kyle Lowry and Tessa Virtue.
19. 2018 – The Nutcracker box office earns $5-million for the first time
Box office sales hit $5-million, all in one season.
Celine Dion with artists and staff of the Ballet backstage at The Nutcracker. Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada
20. 2019 – Canadian icon Celine Dion visits backstage and watches a rehearsal
After attending a rehearsal and meeting cast members of The Nutcracker during the 2019 season, Dion called it an “incredible experience.”
21. 2020 – For the first time since its debut, the annual production is cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic
The entire season of performances was cancelled owing to the pandemic in 2020. Performances resumed briefly in 2021 before eventually being cancelled again because of capacity restrictions.
Christine Audet working on the Sugar Plum Fairy tutu. Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada
22. 2022 – Hope Muir’s first year as artistic director at the helm of The Nutcracker
An acclaimed dancer, teacher and director, Hope Muir joined the NBoC after a 20-year career on stage and other notable leadership positions, including at Scottish Ballet and Charlotte Ballet.
23. 2023 – New Sugar Plum Fairy tutus are built for the first time since 1995
The iconic sparkling tutus include 19 layers of tulle and required a team of 12 to reconstruct. Many of the other costumes worn by the dancers today are still the originals made 30 years ago.
Donald Thom in The Nutcracker. Photo by Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada
24. 2023 – A new horse is acquired for the first time since 1995
Kudelka’s Nutcracker features a total of 57 animal characters, including an impressive dancing horse.
25. 2023 – The total number of performances of The Nutcracker surpasses 600
As of the end of the 2024 season, Kudelka’s Nutcracker had been performed 672 times.
Revenue from Kudelka’s Nutcracker has generated more than a whopping $96-million over the past 30 years. Karolina Kuras/The National Ballet of Canada.
26. 2024 – The number of children and their families who have attended Kudelka’s Nutcracker for free through the Share the Magic program surpasses 45,000
The NBoC presents free performances of The Nutcracker and other ballets to families facing difficult circumstances every year through partnerships with nearly 60 community organizations.
27. 2024 – Revenue generated from The Nutcracker reaches a cumulative $96-million
Revenue from Kudelka’s Nutcracker has generated more than a whopping $96-million over the past 30 years, making it one of the company’s most financially successful productions.
28. 2024 – The Nutcracker celebrates a 29-year track record of never cancelling a single performance owing to snow
Not once in its history has The Nutcracker been cancelled because ofweather.
29. 2024 – For the third year in a row, The Nutcracker sells out in its first week
For all three years, The Nutcracker sold out before the end of the first week of performances.
30. 2025 – The Nutcracker celebrates 30 years of performances
The production’s 30th anniversary falls on Dec. 21, 2025.