The holiday season in New York City wouldn’t be complete without The Yorkville Nutcracker, Francis Patrelle’s beloved reimagining of the classic ballet. Now in its 29th year, Dances Patrelle’s Yorkville Nutcracker will once again transport audiences through a dazzling journey of 1895 New York from December 11–14, 2025, at The Kaye Playhouse (695 Park Avenue,).

Performances will take place Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets are $80 and available at dancespatrelle.org.

This year’s production welcomes New York City Ballet’s Miriam Miller and Tyler Angle in the leading roles of the Sugar-Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. They are joined by Max Baud and Hayley Clark as the Snow King and Queen, along with two new Snow Princes, including Ethan Wilson from Dance Theatre of Harlem. The cast also includes more than 200 talented young dancers from prestigious schools across the region, including Ballet Academy East, School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Hispánico, and others.

Set against the glittering backdrop of Gilded Age New York, The Yorkville Nutcracker follows the classic Nutcracker tale with a distinctly local twist. Audiences are invited to a grand Christmas Eve celebration at Gracie Mansion, where guests include notable figures like then–Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt. From there, the story sweeps through iconic city landmarks—a battle with life-sized mice, a moonlit skate across Central Park’s frozen ponds, and a breathtaking sleigh ride to the Grand Conservatory of the Bronx Botanical Gardens, where the Sugar-Plum Fairy hosts a magnificent sunrise banquet of sweets.

For nearly three decades, The Yorkville Nutcracker has been a treasured New York holiday tradition—offering both classic ballet artistry and a nostalgic journey through the city’s past.

Founded by choreographer Francis Patrelle, Dances Patrelle is celebrating its 35th anniversary this season. The company is known for blending dramatic storytelling with classical technique, earning acclaim for original works like Madame X, Macbeth, and Rhapsody in Blue. Patrelle’s choreography has been described by Dance Magazine’s Lynn Garafola as “classical because it is rooted in metaphor and symbolic language, populist because of its legibility and broad cultural resonance.”

With a legacy of collaborations featuring stars such as Marcelo Gomes, Jenifer Ringer, Lourdes Lopez, and Cynthia Gregory, Dances Patrelle continues to nurture new generations of dancers while keeping timeless stories alive on stage.

The Yorkville Nutcracker is more than a ballet—it’s a love letter to New York City’s history, spirit, and enduring sense of wonder.

The Yorkville Nutcracker
Presented by Dances Patrelle
 December 11–14, 2025
 Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Ave, New York, NY
 Tickets: $80 | dancespatrelle.org

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