The New York Public Library Celebrates THE NUTCRACKER in Free Exhibition

In anticipation of the holiday season, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center is exploring a staple of the season with a free exhibition on one of the world's most beloved ballets. Winter Wonderland: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker on view now until January 27, 2018, at the Library for the Performing Arts, charts the early years of the ballet's life from its premiere in February 1954 to the success of the remounted production in 1964.

Debuting in 1954, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker was an immediate success, yet only became a classic when a televised and narrated version in 1958 brought the magical world into people's homes. The 1964 New York City Ballet production included choreographic changes and brand new costumes and sets commissioned from the artists Barbara Karinska and Rouben Ter-Arutunian. With these modifications, The Nutcracker has remained untouched since 1964, allowing multiple generations to bond over a shared experience year after year with the New York City Ballet and companies around the world.

Through treasures from the archives of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, including photographs, set models, costume designs, and original film footage, the story of Balanchine's beloved holiday classic emerges. Highlights from the exhibition include:

• The original blueprint for the Christmas tree used as the centerpiece of Act I; the tree constructed by Ter-Arutunian is still in use today
• Many of Karinska's original costumes designs, including the Sugar Plum Fairy's two distinct costumes: a pale pink dress with a knee-length skirt to open Act II and a pale green tutu for her pas de deux with her Cavalier
• The schematics detailing the techniques used to create the magic of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, from the tree-raising to the snow falling--which is still done by hand
• The original set models for Act I and II; Ter-Arutunian undertook both the lighting and the sets for the 1964 production, and the pair served to experiment with gels and different lighting effects
• A selection of pointe shoes from the famous ballerinas featured in The Nutcracker and footage from the original productions.