This December is the first time Eugene Ballet’s well-loved production of The Nutcracker will be under the direction of Artistic Director Jennifer Martin and Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Suzanne Haag. Yet audiences will feel the presence of Toni Pimble, the company’s founder and longtime artistic leader who retired last season, throughout the production.

The 2025 production of The Nutcracker still presents Pimble’s beloved choreography, with only minor modifications made by Pimble herself. Another new feature this year is Nutcracker Short & Suite, a sensory friendly performance of the ballet, which will be offered on December 23.

Pimble will also still be active in the costume designs. “Now that Toni has more time to prioritize what brings her joy, she did build new costumes for Clara, Hans, the Snow King, and the men’s Marzipan costumes,” Martin points out. “We are very fortunate that she remains dedicated to sewing these beautiful creations, adding a freshness to the experience and pieces of art that the dancers can be proud to wear.”

Suzanne Haag points out that it is the casting that makes this holiday classic distinct each year. “What is always exciting to note is that each show varies and remains fresh based on the artists cast in various roles. This year is the first year that we have announced casting for main roles on our social media channels so audience members can make sure they see their favorite dancers on stage.” You can find Sugar Plum and Cavalier casting here, and Hans and Clara casting here.

An annual flight of fancy

For many, The Nutcracker is a yearly tradition, an anticipated flight of fancy. The ballet adventure begins with a Christmas Eve party where the Nutcracker makes his appearance as a gift to Clara from her godfather Herr Drosselmeyer, a mysterious figure who brings magical toys to the party. When Clara falls asleep in bed, she dreams of traveling through a snowy forest with her nutcracker, who has transformed into a prince. As Clara ventures forth, snowflakes whirl and dance around her in the always popular “Dance of the Snowflakes.” Ultimately, she arrives at the enchanting Land of the Sweets. The Nutcracker culminates in the iconic pas de deux of the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier, after which Clara wakes to find it was all a dream.

Eugene Ballet’s performances are set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score, performed live by Orchestra Next. The concept of this orchestra of professional and aspiring musicians, under the direction of founder Brian McWhorter, was inspired at The Nutcracker more than a decade ago, and the group remains the resident orchestra of Eugene Ballet. 

Nutcracker Short & Suite – a sensory friendly performance on December 23

For the first time, the Eugene Ballet Youth (EBY) will present a sensory friendly performance, Nutcracker Short & Suite. EBY is the classical performing branch of Eugene Ballet Academy and is composed of 30+ youth students.

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For this special performance on December 23 only, the house lights will be dimmed but not dark, and there will be no use of strobe lights or explosives. Recorded music will be used for the show to limit sudden sound fluctuations. The performance also includes narration throughout the performance to help clarify the story, with ASL seats reserved for audience members that benefit from this support.

The lobby will be part of the experience with immersive activities before, during and after the show for those who need to move. A room to retreat is also available, and a live video of the performance will be playing for audience members who choose to exit the hall at any point.

This family-friendly performance is on Tuesday, December 23 at 5:30 with tickets starting at $18.

Bringing The Nutcracker to Alaska

In late November the company traveled to Anchorage, Alaska for collaborative performances of The Nutcracker, which they have done each year since 2010. For these performances, one of the artistic staff travels to Anchorage in the fall to host three days of auditions and initial rehearsals for the local students, some of whom travel long distances in hopes of being a part of The Nutcracker.

​​The company comes back in late November for final rehearsals and performances. The company completed six shows over Thanksgiving weekend with the Anchorage Symphony and students of Alaska Dance Theatre.

The academy director Farah Zoetmulder at Alaska Dance Theatre is thrilled with this Eugene Ballet creative collaboration. Says Jennifer Martin, “Farah told us that Toni’s choreography is so musical and that the movements are a visual representation of the music, and she could not imagine any other steps fitting The Nutcracker better than those created by Toni.”

New endeavors for Suzanne Haag

Eugene Ballet began its new season in November with Dracula, which was the first full-length ballet choreographed by Suzanne Haag.

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It has been a busy fall for Haag. After Dracula, she traveled to Amsterdam to attend the “Positioning Ballet – Future Leaders Conference.” This is an annual international gathering focused on shaping the next generation of artistic leadership in ballet and dance. Haag was one of 35 emerging dance leaders from 14 countries selected for this conference.

“I came away from the Positioning Ballet Conference with so much information, a cohort of leaders in the ballet world to connect with, and most importantly, a renewed sense of confidence in myself as a leader,” explains Haag. “Much of what was discussed are things that Eugene Ballet is already doing, especially in terms of caring for artists and considering what work to present. I am beginning to implement some of the communication skills that were presented, as well as evaluating my values as an artist and leader.”

The conference is hosted each year by the Positioning Ballet Foundation, which started in 2017 as a way to bring ballet artistic leadership from around the world to learn collaboratively and explore the challenges and possibilities facing the future of ballet.

Tickets and information

Tickets for the full performance of The Nutcracker, which opens on December 19, start at $30. For tickets and more information, visit Eugene Ballet’s website.

This family-friendly performance is on Tuesday, December 23 at 5:30pm with tickets starting at $18.

All performances take place in the Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.