You’ll find most professional dancers in the studio teaching, not onstage performing — because paid performing work has always been scarce, and keeps getting scarcer. And with President Trump’s policies gutting arts funding and devaluing cultural work at every turn, the squeeze on dance artists is getting even tighter.

So these highly skilled artists do what actually pays: They pour everything they know (and it’s a lot; 15-50 years and more of intensive dance and fitness training) into the next generation in studios across America. And this month, you can see exactly what that labor looks like in the explosion of Nutcrackers and holiday shows taking over our region.

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December begins with BodyVox’s Pearl Dive Project, showcasing new works by visual artists, musicians, and writers in collaboration with directors and dancers Jamey Hampton, Ashley Roland, and the company dance artists.

This year’s collaborators include Sherrie Wolf, Portland-based painter and printmaker celebrated for her lush still lifes that layer contemporary subjects over classical and Old Master references; Carlos Kalmar, acclaimed Uruguayan conductor who has led major orchestras internationally and in the U.S., including the Oregon Symphony, known for his expressive interpretations and deep understanding of orchestral color, and Raffaela Kalmar, a classically trained violinist with extensive orchestral experience and solo performances; Daniel H. Wilson, a New York Times bestselling author and robotics PhD whose imaginative storytelling and technical expertise may inform multimedia or conceptual elements; and Dan Schlosberg, a Grammy-nominated composer and pianist whose eclectic career spans solo, chamber, contemporary, and operatic music.

Together, they and the BodyVox dancers will present an evening of work that fuses movement, music, visual art, and storytelling, offering audiences a glimpse into a creative world full of process and experimentation.

December also features Open Space’s super-cute NOT-Cracker, a rainbow-hued celebration of dance, gender expression, and body positivity. At the same time, NW Dance Project’s In Good Company highlights the company’s highly trained, super dancers and Young Creatives PRO TRACK students as they create new holiday choreography.

Classic favorites abound: Oregon Ballet Theatre’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® dazzles with Marie’s journey to the Land of Sweets, including a sensory-friendly performance and free Fred Meyer in-store events; Northwest Dance Theatre’s A Nutcracker Tea offers a family-friendly, abridged version with tea and cookies after the show; Sultanov Ballet Academy showcases advanced soloists in a festive Nutcracker Suite and Winter Production; and Eugene Ballet with Orchestra Next presents its own version of The Nutcracker, a creative retelling of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince.

Oregon International Ballet Academy (OIBA), led by artistic directors and husband-and-wife team Xuan Cheng and Ye Li, celebrates its 11th season with a full-length Nutcracker, featuring award-winning students alongside guest artists from Casa de Arte (Kumamoto, Japan) and Oregon Ballet Theatre principal dancer Brian Simcoe. For something whimsical, Imago Theatre’s ZooZoo brings playful, anthropomorphic creatures to life with masks, music, and physical comedy.

I know this is an exhausting and difficult point in history, and joy can feel elusive, but don’t forget to support dance artists of all kinds, who are still creating, teaching, and making magic in the middle of this mess. They will be so grateful you showed up. Happy December!

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Pearl Dive Project
BodyVox
December 4-13
BodyVox Dance Center, 1201 N.W. 17th Ave., Portland

Born from a desire to see what kind of choreography nondancers and other types of creatives could create, BodyVox artistic directors Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland launched The Pearl Dive Project. Each year, they invite a who’s who of renowned artists to create new work for the company — an adventurous celebration of collaboration. This year’s performance will feature the works of visual artist Sherrie Wolf, conductor and musician Carlos and Raffaela Kalmar, author and roboticist Daniel Wilson, and composer Dan Schlosberg.

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NOT-Cracker
Open Space
December 5-7
Newmark Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway, Portland

NOT-Cracker tells the tale of Ted, an unfortunate individual living in rainy Portland, who struggles to find joy. Ted believes they can’t dance until a cast of wild, zany characters sweeps them up and convinces them they can! Using much of Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, NOT-Cracker invites its viewers to celebrate the wide varieties of dance, gender expression, and body positivity. Join Ted as they enter NOT-Cracker‘s colorful world filled with rainbow-hued NOT-Bunnies, Polichinelles, a street-dancing Toy Soldier, Waltzing Flowers, the showstopping Baby Penguins, and much more!

Artistic Director Franco Nieto brings his signature physical and emotive choreography to life with his company artists, and co-founders Charlene Hannibal and Maeve Dougal have created youth roles for more than fifty children from The School at Open Space and Open Space Too. The performance also features local street dancer NØIR as the Toy Soldier, Charles Roy with Portland’s gender-nonconforming House of Ada (from HBO Max’s Legendary), and a Sugar Plum Fairy remix by Tokyo street artist Uno.

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In Good Company
NW Dance Project
December 5-13
NW Dance Project Creative Center, 211 N.E. 10th Ave., Portland 

Each winter, in this fundraising event accompanied by some warm wassail, NW Dance Project Artistic Director Sarah Slipper turns over the choreographic reins to the talented company artists, giving them a chance to conceive, create, and present new dance works. This year, company dancers Gabriel Canepa, Tulia Marshall, Anthony Milian, and Mateo Vidals will give you a sneak peek into the depth of their artistry with a selection of holiday-specific choreography.

And as a special treat, the Young Creatives PRO TRACK company students will also take part, performing a new work from company artist Audrey Wells.

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George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, 
Oregon Ballet Theater
December 5-24
Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay St., Portland

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® whisks audiences into a magical holiday world, following little Marie as she bravely rescues her Nutcracker Prince from the grotesque and fearsome Rat King and journeys to the glittering Land of Sweets. The production dazzles with sparkling snowflakes, towering Christmas trees, candy-colored sets, and larger-than-life characters — from the graceful Sugar Plum Fairy to marching toy soldiers — brought to life alongside the live OBT Orchestra, led by resident music director Raúl Gómez-Rojas.

For the first time, OBT offers a full-length, sensory-friendly performance on December 22, featuring a relaxed environment with lighting and sound adjustments, a Quiet Room, and freedom for patrons to move, vocalize, and bring comfort items — perfect for young children and audience members with sensory sensitivities. 

Families can also enjoy free Fred Meyer in-store Nutcracker celebrations, including Storybook Nutcracker performances featuring OBT2 dancers and festive meet-and-greets with the Sugar Plum Fairy and Soldier Doll:

• Saturday, Nov. 22, 1–3 PM – Storybook Nutcracker, Vancouver, Wash.
• Saturday, Nov. 29, 1–2 PM – Nutcracker Meet & Greet, Tualatin
• Thursday, Dec. 11, 4–6 PM – Storybook Nutcracker, Beaverton
• Thursday, Dec. 18, 4–5 PM – Nutcracker Meet & Greet, Portland

Traditional performances at Keller Auditorium run December 5–24. 

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The Nutcracker
Presented by Oregon International Ballet Academy
November 23-24
Patricia Reser Center For The Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton

Celebrating its 11th Season, Oregon International Ballet Academy (OIBA), led by artistic directors and husband-and-wife team Xuan Cheng and Ye Li, will present its annual full-length production of The Nutcracker. The production will feature the award-winning OIBA students alongside guest artists from Casa de Arte (Kumamoto, Japan) and Oregon Ballet Theatre principal dancer Brian Simcoe. Cheng is the current Ballet mistress and principal dancer of the Hong Kong Ballet, and she was previously a principal dancer with the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Li is an award-winning choreographer, former OBT soloist, soloist with the Guangzhou Ballet in China, and former Les Grands Ballets Canadiens company member. The two bring lifetimes of creativity and expertise to the ballet.

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A Nutcracker Tea
Northwest Dance Theatre 
December 13-21
Performing Arts Center, Portland Community College Sylvania, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave., Portland

Northwest Dance Theatre presents A Nutcracker Tea, a family-friendly, abridged version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker that has been a beloved Portland metro holiday tradition since 2004. This magical performance follows Clara and her Nutcracker Prince through the Snow Kingdom and the Land of Sweets, brought to life by NWDT dancers and special guest performers, with elaborate sets, sparkling costumes, and graceful choreography.

Choreography by June Taylor-Dixon and Gretta Murray-Marchek, celebrating their 36th season, adds elegance and charm to this condensed version. At the conclusion of each performance, complimentary tea and cookies are served, creating a festive, interactive experience for the whole family.

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The Nutcracker Suite and Winter Showcase
Sultanov Ballet Academy
December 13-14
Lake Oswego High School Auditorium, 2501 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

The Sultanov Ballet Academy presents its annual Nutcracker, choreographed by Artistic Director Artur Sultanov. Sultanov, who trained at Russia’s prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy, danced with the Kirov Ballet, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT), performing leading OBT roles in Swan Lake, Firebird, and The Nutcracker. This Winter Production features SBA’s advanced soloists, showcasing their versatility, and promises to capture the true holiday spirit.

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The Nutcracker
Eugene Ballet with Orchestra Next
December 19-24
Hult Center for the Performing Arts, One Eugene Center, Eugene

In this version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Eugene Ballet Founder Toni Pimble and performed live by Orchestra Next led by Brian McWhorter, The Nutcracker becomes a story of young love. In Clara’s dream, the Nutcracker transforms into Hans, a young man who works for Drosselmeyer instead of a prince. The couple travels in a hot-air balloon rather than a horse-drawn sleigh, and they encounter more culturally sensitive dances that draw on the folk dances of each country represented. In 2024, Jean Zondervan for Oregon ArtsWatch previewed Eugene’s The Nutcracker and wrote about it in depth here.

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ZooZoo
Imago Theatre
December 19-January 4
Imago Theatre, 17 S.E. Eightth Ave., Portland

This longtime audience favorite magnifies the quirkiness of our everyday lives through an expert blend of elaborate costumes, masks, dance, music, physical comedy, and anthropomorphic humor. ZooZoo features a zany cast of characters including playful polar bears, firefly eyes, hippos with insomnia, arrogant anteaters, introverted frogs, acrobatic worms, self-touting accordions, and tricky penguins in this carnival of the absurd. 

Founded in 1979 by Carol Triffle and Jerry Mouawad, Imago presents original productions using masks and elaborate costumes, making humans disappear and imaginative creatures appear.