Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads

Painting from the Nutcracker by Linda Paul

Got a few extra minutes to get into the Nutcracker and holiday spirit? Sit back and enjoy some excerpts and interviews from some of the world's greatest ballet companies and their Nutcracker performances. Many big ballet companies have their own YouTube channels. Search for them and watch clip after clip of not only performances, but interviews and rehearsals.

Miami City Ballet has quite a few back-stage interviews done by the company members themselves, so it really gives viewers a relaxed and real inside-look into the company.
Here's Patricia Delgado interviewing her sister, Jeanette, who is the Dewdrop.

And here is Patricia Delgado's Nutcracker journal, where she tapes rehearsals and interviews the dancers about their parts in the show.

And an interview with retiring ballet dancer, Deanna Seay, who dances the Sugar Plum Fairy.

New York City Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/newyorkcityballet

Pacific Northwest Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/pacificnwballet

Joffrey Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheJoffreyBallet

Houston Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/houstonballet

San Fransisco Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SFBallet

Annaheim Ballet's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnaheimBallet

Finis Jhung Instructional Videos

I really enjoy watching Finis Jhung's instructional videos. He is a famous teacher who has devoted his post-dance career to teaching professional dancers in New York City. He has an amazing ability to break down ballet into simple, easy to understand steps so that everyone can learn. I am considering attending his weekend workshop this August in NYC.

Here's his bio from his website - Since 1972, Finis Jhung has been one of New York's most sought-after teachers because of his singular ability to make ballet accessible to dancers of all talents, ages, and body types. His innovative teaching techniques are based on years of studying the world's best dancers in performance and on video and finding that these extraordinary artists prepare for balances, turns, and jumps in ways not taught in the traditional ballet class.

Here is a video teaching partnering techniques for the Nutcracker grand pas de deux. http://dancemedia.com/v/3237

Here is another, breaking down center work, showing how even beginners can do more interesting floor work than standing in one spot and repeating.
http://dancemedia.com/v/3220