A Christmas tree rises out of the stage in front of you while 62 musicians play Tschaikovsky live, and Balanchine's Nutcracker commits City Ballet's whole roster: all 90 dancers, 40 stagehands and more than 125 School of American Ballet children in two alternating casts. It runs about two hours, suits ages five and up, and every lap child needs a ticket. If you do one holiday ballet in New York, do this one.
What to expect
You take your seat in the Koch Theater for roughly two hours of Balanchine, in Karinska's costumes on Ter-Arutunian's sets. The first act builds to the tree that grows before your eyes and the snow scene; the second is the Land of Sweets, danced largely by SAB children alongside the company. There is no late seating and no re-entry once it begins.
Good to know
- Take the 1 to 66 St–Lincoln Center; the Koch Theater sits on the south side of the plaza.
- Recommended for ages 5 and up, and every child needs their own ticket — even one sitting on a lap.
- There is no late seating and no re-entry, so budget for the Lincoln Center plaza crowds.
- A sensory-friendly performance with adjusted lighting and sound levels is offered for audiences with sensory processing challenges.
- Orders above 19 tickets must be processed by NYCB Group Sales rather than the website.
- All sales are final — there are no refunds or replacements for a performance you miss.
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Common questions
How long is the ballet?
Approximately two hours.
Do small children need their own tickets?
Yes. All patrons, including small children sitting on laps, must have a ticket to enter the theater, and NYCB recommends ages 5 and up.
Is there a performance designed for autistic audiences?
Yes — NYCB stages a sensory-friendly Nutcracker with modified lighting and sound levels for audiences with sensory processing challenges.
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