Behind the scenes of The Nutcracker’s 20th anniversary with a beautiful photo diary

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There’s something incredibly magical about The Nutcracker. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time seeing it, nothing puts you in the holiday mood faster than the flutter of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tulle tutu or a pirouette from the icy Snow Queen. Dancing rats, leaping lambs, sparkle dusted costumes and larger-than-life sets have kept audiences coming back for more since it’s debut in 1892, and at The National Ballet of Canada, since 1995, when the current iteration of the classic was first performed.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, we enlisted photographer Daniel Neuhaus to tuck himself between the tutus and capture a real-time photo diary from behind the heavy red curtain. Bright stage lights, gleaming snowflake tiaras and stunning impressionist action shots highlight the beauty, majesty and wonder of the show. Candid, quiet backstage moments with dancers decked out in fuzzy leg warmers pulled up high, and funny ones too like catching a ballerina paper cup in-hand at the water cooler, make you see this annual holiday tradition in a whole new light.

The Nutcracker runs through January 3rd, 2016 at The National Ballet of Canada. To purchase tickets, visit national.ballet.ca.

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Photography by Daniel Neuhaus

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Nutcracker 20th Anniversary