Clara and the Prince dance the Snow pas de deux under a starlit sky

The Nutcracker

December 11 – 23, 2026 Ballet in two acts · Meydenbauer Theatre, Bellevue

A Christmas tradition decades old on the Eastside. Clara and her Prince lead you past a battle of soldiers and mice, through the snow-covered forest to the Land of Sweets.

Runtime
1 hr 50 min One intermission
Music
Tchaikovsky
Choreography
Vera Altunina Traditional Russian staging
Audience
Every family

Photography by Rex Tranter

Clara and the Prince hold an arabesque before the corps

A Holiday Spectacle

A Christmas tradition decades old, staged with traditional choreography after the original 1892 production, vibrant costumes and brilliant sets.

Butterflies spread golden wings in the Waltz of the Flowers

Battle, Snow and the Land of Sweets

Clara and her Prince lead the way past a fierce battle of soldiers and mice, through the snow-covered forest to the Land of Sweets, where the Arabian, Russian and flower dancers await.

Russian dancers in embroidered coats kick in unison

The Nutcracker School Show

IBT shares The Nutcracker with public, private and home school groups across the Eastside in a student-friendly performance built for first-time audiences.

At a glance

Dates, Times and Credits

Choreography
Vera Altuninaafter Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa
Music
P. I. Tchaikovsky
Running time
1 hr 50 minTwo acts, one intermission
Opening night
December 11, 20266:00 pm
Venue
Meydenbauer Theatre11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
Tickets
$45 to $70Reserved seating. No added fees. Open: Tickets

Performances

  1. Friday, December 116:00 pm Buy: Friday, December 11, 6:00 pmOpening night
  2. Saturday, December 121:00 pm Buy: Saturday, December 12, 1:00 pm
  3. Saturday, December 125:00 pm Buy: Saturday, December 12, 5:00 pm
  4. Sunday, December 131:00 pm Buy: Sunday, December 13, 1:00 pm
  5. Friday, December 186:00 pm Buy: Friday, December 18, 6:00 pm
  6. Saturday, December 191:00 pm Buy: Saturday, December 19, 1:00 pm
  7. Saturday, December 195:00 pm Buy: Saturday, December 19, 5:00 pm
  8. Sunday, December 201:00 pm Buy: Sunday, December 20, 1:00 pm
  9. Sunday, December 205:00 pm Buy: Sunday, December 20, 5:00 pm
  10. Monday, December 211:00 pm Buy: Monday, December 21, 1:00 pm
  11. Tuesday, December 221:00 pm Buy: Tuesday, December 22, 1:00 pm
  12. Wednesday, December 231:00 pm Buy: Wednesday, December 23, 1:00 pm

Choreography Vera Altunina, based on the original production by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa. Music P. I. Tchaikovsky.

IBT's Nutcracker is rooted in the original 1892 production, staged with vibrant costumes, full theatrical scenery and the classical structure that has made the ballet a holiday tradition for generations. This December also marks the return of internationally acclaimed ballerina Ana Sophia Scheller to the IBT stage.

Preserving authentic classical repertoire is one of the company's defining missions: not something frozen in the past, but an art form passed from one generation to the next. Professional artists and developing dancers from the International Ballet Academy share the same stage, so the line from training to performance is visible to every audience.

For one family it is a performance they return to every December. For another it will be a child's first ballet.

Each performance listed above has its own ticket link, sold through IBT's official box office. Prices include all fees, and every person attending needs a ticket, babies included. The Meydenbauer Theatre box office opens one hour before each performance. Prices, refunds, accessible seating and group rates are on the box office page.

Photography by Rex Tranter

  • Clara and the Prince hold an arabesque before the corps
  • The Nutcracker raises his sword beneath the great clock
  • Butterflies spread golden wings in the Waltz of the Flowers
  • The Arabian dancer floats a sea-green veil above her head
  • Flower dancers in pink hold blossom arches overhead
  • Russian dancers in embroidered coats kick in unison