Then and Now: A Pictorial Journey into the San Francisco Ballet, 'The Nutcracker'

75th Anniversary of the San Francisco Ballet, The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker was first performed December 1892 in St. Petersburg, but the American holiday tradition of Nutcracker performances started right here in San Francisco in 1944. Opening to rave reviews, The Nutcracker has quickly become a holiday favorite and an annual family tradition for Bay Area families and visitors. It’s a timeless performance that is ubiquitous on dance companies’ across the nation BUT nothing compares to the original at the San Francisco Ballet. It just gets better and better every year, capturing the imagination of all who attend. From time-honored classic dance numbers to live orchestration to the innovative blend of magic and illusions. Since my daughter was 3 years old, it's a performance we never miss.

Here’s a look into the past and present of the Bay Area’s most beloved holiday family show, The Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet.

Don’t miss it!

The Sugar Plum Fairy waltzes with her court of Flowers dazzling Clara and Drosselmeyer.

Jocelyn Vollmar as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Christensen's Nutcracker, 1949, Photo courtesy SFMPD.

Sasha De Sola in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

The famous Madame du Cirque is filled with many small surprises including a dancing bear!

San Francisco Ballet in Willam Christensen's Nutcracker. (© San Francisco Ballet. Photo courtesy SFMPD.)

San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

The King and Queen of Snow send Clara and the Prince off to their next adventure.

Celena Cummings and Joaquim Felsch in Willam Christensen's Nutcracker, 1944. (© San Francisco Ballet. Photo courtesy SFMPD.)

Yuan Yuan Tan and Carlo Di Lanno in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

Russian Dancers fly through the air with joy and verve.

Willam Christensen's Nutcracker, 1944. (© San Francisco Ballet. Photo courtesy SFMPD.)

Esteban Hernandez in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

Ballerinas dance about in a blizzard of snow.

Sally Whalen, Celina Cummings, Onna White, and other San Francisco Ballet dancers in W. Christensen's "Nutcracker", 1944. (© Joaquin Felsch. Courtesy of SFMPD.)

San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

Drosselmeyer grants Clara her Christmas wish by transforming her into a ballerina so she can dance with the prince.

Gisella Caccialanza and William Christensen in the first American full-length production of Nutcracker (1944).

Mathilde Froustey and Luke Ingham in Tomasson's Nutcracker // © Erik Tomasson

Like many children, my families annual tradition seeing The Nutcracker over the last 13 years was my daughter’s first exposure to both ballet and classical music. Now as a young talented flautist perhaps some day it will be her turn to contribute to the San Francisco Ballet’s history.