The Nutcracker Ballet
December 2025
UB Center for the Arts
103 Center for the Arts
Buffalo, NY 14260
🎟️ Tickets available soon
Be part of Buffalo’s most magical holiday tradition!
History & Holiday Magic
The timeless enchantment of The Nutcracker begins with its composer, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893). From a childhood of piano lessons in rural Russia to international acclaim, Tchaikovsky crafted some of classical music’s most beloved scores — including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and the 1812 Overture. His soaring melodies and vivid storytelling still draw families to theatres around the world each December.
A Buffalo Holiday Tradition
Now celebrating 29 years in 2025, the American Academy of Ballet’s Nutcracker is Western New York’s longest-running production of this holiday classic. Previously selling out performances at UB Center for the Arts, the show continues to delight audiences with child-friendly choreography, dazzling costumes, and ever-changing scenic surprises:
A Magical Experience for All Ages
The charm of the American Academy of Ballet’s Nutcracker lies in its imaginative, child-friendly approach. Carefully choreographed to captivate audiences of all ages, each scene bursts with color, creativity, and surprise. In China, a towering dragon sweeps across the stage in a moment of theatrical spectacle. At the North Pole, Santa’s elves add the finishing touches to a whimsical toy workshop. The Snow Scene, set in a glittering version of Central Park, features an ice-skating rink and gently falling snow. Clara and her Prince journey through a world of wonder, visiting new realms filled with color, magic, and imagination. From season to season, these scenes evolve—surprising audiences with fresh choreography and fantastical designs. Each stop along their journey showcases the unique beauty of faraway cultures, brought to life through dance. It’s a highlight of the Academy’s Nutcracker and a beloved tradition: a voyage through enchanted lands.
"The American Academy of Ballet takes the audience into Tchaikovsky's imagination. This Nutcracker offers the best of what ballet is meant to provide: holiday tradition, whimsical abandon... an exquisite and disciplined company. With brilliant (and ever changing) sets, dazzling costumes, and gifted dancers, this Nutcracker will leave you with a warm heart and a smile on your face."
- The Buffalo News, 2015
