Ballet in Cinema Series: The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)

The premier of what is known to be one of the world's most famous ballets, the Nutcracker, took place at the Mariinsky Theater of Russia in 1892. Mikhail Shemiakin, Russian émigré and world-renowned avant-garde artist and sculptor reinterpreted the historical ballet to suit a more colorful audience. Known as the sophisticated and witty Nutcracker, Mikhail Shemiakin's version is a more unconventional production different from the traditional versions popular at Christmas. This unique interpretation was filmed in the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, home of the Kirov Ballet Academy and the Nutcracker's original stage. The 2007 production showcases the eye-catching costumes and startling staging designed by Mikhail Shemiakin. An exhibition of Shemiakin's costume and design sketches used in the staging of the ballet was presented in the private collections of the Russian Museum in St.Petersburg.