Moscow Ballet

The ballet was wonderful, the costumes were so pretty and the choreography spectacular. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes ballet. The only disappointing thing was that not even a program was given to be able to read about the dancers. I was told the company did not provide one.

I was more than a little disappointed in this version of The Nutcracker. I've been to many different performances and this by far was my least favorite. The choreography was sub-par and did not invoke emotion and lacked creativity and precision due to the music being played through loud speaker rather than an orchestra. This caused the ballet to progress very quickly, however, it did pause for an entire 35 min intermission. The costuming was average, but almost childlike in its design and creation. There didn't seem to be a real effort to create the illusion of reality that these type of performances are suppose to allow. I didn't feel transported to anywhere other than the Mezzanine section row 4. Some of the performers were too young to have such vital parts in the performance. Their novice ballet skill showed in their basic maneuvers and simplistic rendition of classic scenes. Maybe this was the fault of the choreographer, but either way the showing was not very impressive. And although I am a fan of children having a role in ballet performances, the way in which they were used could have been much better. The Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker unfortunately felt like an excellent high school performance.

As always, we enjoyed our experience of the Moscow Ballet. Very colorful, well performed, and with great skill. The only thing we had issue with was the venue. It seems their clocks were not set well between the announcers and backstage. At intermission, the intercom announcers stated we had "5 minutes" until the show resumed. I walked right into the theater when that was stated. This was a travel of less than 30 feet. Upon my entering, there were already people on the stage. The performance had already began.

I brought my mother and my daughter to see the Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker and was wonderfully surprised at the quality of the performance and the turnout. Would love to see the Nutcracker every year.

This was my first ballet and I was not disappointed. The dancers were great. The only thing was I thought would be different was the set. I didn't think it would be a fake background on a screen. I thought it would be props instead. It didn't take away from the beauty though and I would definately reccomend it.

great performance love to see the children happy . The world needs that.

This was a professional production of a classic. Great for people of all ages, especially since Barbie revived the Nutcracker for young girls a few years back- they really seemed to appreciate all the dancing. Great idea to get in the Christmas Spirit!

We were very much looking forward to this performance as it has been some time since attending a ballet and to be able to see the world renowned Moscow ballet company was going to be a treat. Unfortunately we both found it sorely lacking. There were only 4 dancers that came near the standard we were expecting. I guess the company is definitely not what it once was! I found the local ballet companies far surpassed what this once great company had to offer.

Took my grand children to see the Moscow Ballet Nutcracker and they wereleaping and dancing up and down the hotel hallway, they loved the show. Bravo!

Only a grand parent drives 3 1/2 hours each way (Washington, D.C. to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), so a five (5) year old grand child can attend the Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker. This production of the Russian Nutcracker was fabulous! The provided a priceless opportunity for a grand parent to bond with the youngest generation. When asked her favorite characters in the Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker, my grand daughter Mikayla (Mickey) responded, "the Snow Flakes." She actually identified with characters close to her age. From my perspective, the traditional Russian script didn't include any young boys her age (only girls) as snow flakes. Members in the audience shared with me, during the 20 minute intermission, this years production includes many more male dancers than seen in the past. By the past the members of the audience were referring to the fact that this was the tenth (10) year for the Moscow Ballet the Great Russian Nutcracker in Wilkes-Barre. For $10 dollars, my grand daughter was able to take a photo with one of the ballerinas before the production began. In her mind the ballerina was wearing a pink outfit. We will have to wait until the photo arrives (by postal or e- mail) before we can settle our dispute as to the color of the ballerina s outfit with whom she took the photo. The ballerina also signed my grand daughter's souvenir booklet (purchased on line along with the ballet tickets). Many of the same items, offered on-line, were available for sale before the production and at intermission. We didn't see any of the bracelets that were offered on-line, for sale, at the production. The length of each of the two segments of the ballet was about right for a five (5) year old grand child.

I WOULD SUM IT UP IN THREE WORDS- AMAZING BEAUTIFUL AND UNFORGETABLE!!!!

Beautiful and amazing! The local dancers add to this great performance!

The performance was wonderful. My grandson's sister was one of the angels. I think it is a great opportunity afforded by the ballet to children of the area. My only complaint would be that the performance was too late in the evening for the siblings and older family members - especially if driving a distance. An earlier performance option would have greatly improved the enjoyment.

Tired and uninspiring performance. Perhaps this was a "warm-up" performance. I have seen several other Nutcracker Suites for less money and recieved better plot interpretations, more vivid costumes and staging, and more inspired choreography and dance. Put me in the spirit.....for a Thanksgiving nap.

Last night's performance of the Great Russian Nutcracker at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, NY was a very good performance. What an opportunity to see a production of this calliber in Upstate NY. The Landmark Theatre is beautiful....Four Stars!!! I would have given it five stars but there were a number of mistakes and the performers were really not together as much as they should have been. The only detraction.....some really strange clanking sound in the background as the prima ballerina was performing....very distracting and took away from the performance. Other than that...it was enjoyable.

The ballet was amazing!! It would have been nice if the Landmark Theatre would have turned down the heat a little. It was way toooooo Hot in there. Made it uncomfortable to sit there for two hours

This show was such a disappointment. The dancing was surprisingly amateur and included too many kids/teens from a local dance company. After intermission, there was an annoying noise coming from behind the curtain - like a mechanical noise - that was extremely disruptive. Overall, this show was a huge let-down.

Don't get me wrong, the segments of the show done by the touring company's performers were first rate. But I had not understood that half the cast (or more) is drawn from local ballet schools, and they do quite a bit of the performance. With the timing and skills that you would normally expect from teenage students. So I went in there expecting to get blown away by a legendary professional dance company, and instead sat through a jazzed-up high school dance recital.

The Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker was absolutely wonderful from the backdrops to the costumes but especially the dancers. Local dancers were cute beyond belief and did a marvelous job for children so young. The dance company was the best I've seen in recent years. The women were graceful, light on their feet, and beautiful. I am always impressed by the graceful hands of ballet stars and was not dissappointed last night. The men were athletic -- their jumps, twirls, tricks and leaps were awesome. It goes without saying that the stars were great. I would heartedly recommend this to one and all. And my 6 year old granddaughter was on the edge of her seat all night.

If the name "Moscow Ballet" invites you to go, give this impulse a second thought. You will not see the excellency of Russian ballet there. What you get is amateurish at best. Lousy dancers, dated and rudimentary choreography, cheap setup. There are a few good moments, the two soloists are actually quite good, but the sparks do not save this unforgivable show. For the sake of fun, entertainment and your children, you may go if you have no other choice! If you really like classical ballet, don't!

What a Beautiful and well prepared ballet!!! My grandaughters were in this ballet and the experience for them will always be a great memory for them. Thank you to all

I have seen a couple of dozen performances of The Nutcracker over the last 30+ years. I was excited to see the Moscow Ballet, the former St. Petersburg Ballet, the grandfather of the original great Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker perform. Like all of the other modern ballet companies though, they have changed the original story and dances to model a more modern world view. Like all the others, they have phased out Mother Ginger. Dancing roses and animals? This isn't in the original world of fantasy that Clara/Maria/Masha wonders at with her Prince. The performance was fine and there were delightful moments of technical wonder, but I was very disappointed to not find the authenticity I had hoped for from this great and historic company. Unfortunately, it's just another Nutcracker in a long line of generic and boring Nutcracker performances circulating around the holidays. I'll try again when TMB comes back with Giselle or Firebird, perhaps.

Dancing was good in general but they added tacky distractions like the big puppets that take the attention away from the dancing. Uncle Drosselmeyer also kept appearing before and after dances and bows, taking credit away from the dancers. Pas de deux and solos of Masha and the Nutcracker Prince were well danced.

The Nutcracker ballet came to life right before our eyes! The dancers were professional and the most talented group of dancers I have ever seen. My daughter was mesmerized from the moment the curtain opened till the curtain call.

It was my second time at the ballet & enjoyed this much more than the first time. The dancing was fine & the Calgary kids did great.

This year's interpretation of the Nutcracker was unique and awesome. Costuming was stupendous and the dancers did an excellent job. It's always "iffy" when local dancers are incorporated into the production, but the kids did a great job. Will attend again next time they're in town.

The show was beautiful but I was expecting more of the traditional way.

I have seen the Nutcracker over 20 times and this one was not the "run of the mill." My husband and I really enjoyed the performance. It added humor and just put a different spin on the typical performance. We both really enjoyed it!

Was really great...a version Ihave never seen before and I watch on TV every year! Nothing beats a live show. Thanks for bring the moscow ballet To San Antonio! Truly remeberable!

The music was beautiful, costumes, very pretty, dancing enjoyable....however only scenery was back drops whish lost so much of the story for the younger audience. A true disappointment. Will not attend again nor recommend this to anyone.

This was a great night of dancing puncuated by humorous puppet characters. Also the inclusion of local children into the production was delightful. Just a couple of things were distracting. First, I think the puppets stayed on stage a little too long and took attention away from the primary dancers. Second, the Majestic Ushers are very polite, however, they spent a lot of time seating late comers. This blocked our view several times, if folks can't get there on time make them wait for intermission.

Worst performance of Nutcracker I've seen in 35 years! Pass this one over and save your money.

We took our 5 & 7 year old girls to see this ballet and they loved it. The costumes were beautiful and amazing. More of a ballet fashion show. Previous reviews said not to miss the arabian dancers (2 act). They stole the show! The most amazing dance performance I've ever seen. The ballet consisted of 2 parts (each part 40 minutes) with a 15 minute intermission. Nutcrackers cost about $45, other items: stuffed bears, posters, nesting dolls, glass ornaments, book cost between $30-$50. At this venue, concession stands were open. We enjoyed lunch at the Embassy Suites' restaurant before the show and then walked over to the connecting venue. The overall performance was amazing. Lots of families attended because local children participated in the ballet. We attended the 3:00 performance just in case the girls didn't like their first "show without words". But both girls watched in awe and amazement the entire time. It was a wonderful family event.

It didn't seem as energetic as the last time I saw it in San Antonio.

My daughter and I have attended a performance of the Nutcracker ballet since she was 4 years old...she is now 28 and many of them were when we were stationed in Germany. We've attended the Moscow Nutcracker performance for the past 7 years. I can honestly say that the Moscow performance is the best. The Majestic Theater in San Antonio is the perfect venue. The only negatives during the performance were the people who arrived late and disrupted the performance and people who obviously have no appreciation of classical ballet and were talking and texting on their cell phones during the performance...my advice, next time stay home and watch a performance on PBS. Other than those issues, the Moscow Nutcracker is stunning and the dancers sheer perfection!

This was a disappointment in regards to the quality of production with the price one paid for a ticket.

Program - D Vague and Cheap looking: is San Antonio seeing the East or West company? Dancing - C: Why didn't the Russian dancer do a traditional Russian dance? Did I really see two dances to the waltz of the Sugar Plum Fairy? What was the whole dance of the Dutch(ish) looking characters that never re-appeared, even for the finale? , Piped in music - D: very discouraging, Costumes - C: the Wizard looked like he was living on the streets 10 minutes before the performance, Stage: F - Basically a back drop and curtain. Really? I've seen community dance theaters with high school dancers do a better job at setting the scene and pulling the performance all together at the end.

This review is somewhat of a dilemma. While I would certainly recommend the show to all, I would advise highly against the purchase of the Platinum Level tickets. I wanted to give my daughter a very special Christmas gift with the ability to meet the Moscow Ballet artist before the performance. The information that I received stated Moscow Ballet is pleased to welcome our guests who have purchased Platinum level tickets with an opportunity to meet the Moscow Ballet artists. To assist us in facilitating this event, please plan to arrive 1 hour prior to the start time of the Great Russian Nutcracker performance and meet our greeter at the Moscow Ballet merchandise table. We arrived promptly, only to be told that there was a medical emergency and they would not be able to accommodate us until intermission. During intermission, we were hurriedly rushed backstage where we were provided a three (3) minute tour of how the backdrops were painted. Interesting but disappointing. There was no effort in which to provide a meet of the artist. The performance was five-stars (amazing) while the money spent to meet the artist was a one-star (poor). The most disappointing was that there was no effort to make amends.

The Moscow dancers were superb, but what's with the addition of children from some Stone Oak school of dance? I didn't pay $50 a ticket to watch "Mommy's little darling" share the stage with a professional ballet company. The amateurs were clearly amateur and were a distraction at best. Had the pre-show advertising stated that a bunch of dance school darlings would be sharing the stage, I would have declined to attend!

This was a charming version of the holiday classic ballet. I particularly liked that the men had good individual showcases, instead of just standing around holding the females. The costumes were particularly attractive, I particularly liked the use of traditional Russian garb. The way the ballet integrated small children into the ballet was especially charming, especially when they were the little snowflakes. They didn't interfere with the professional dancers but were cute and I enjoyed them. The weakest part was the use of canned music and the meh sets, but I can imagine those are cost issues. My mom and I are already planning on going next year.

The Great--the Arabian dancers. They simply take my breath away every year! They alone are worth the price of our tickets! The Good--the youth dancers were very, very good this year! (as always) The Ugly--the Mouse King! He was terrible! Awful! How in the world did he get this part? He could barely jump two inches off the floor, and leaps? The youth dancers could have far surpassed his technique. This was no professional dancer, and I can't believe he was included with the excellent Moscow Ballet dancers! I missed the dancing bull with the Spanish dancers.

This performance was far beyond my expectations. Loved the new "peace" dance and the one with the fabulous acrobats.

more than Memorable! I have been going to various performances of the Nutcracker for over 20 years. This was, by far, the BEST!!! A must see when ever they are in our area.

This was not a good version of the nutcracker. I have been going to it for over 20+ years. They have left out so much of the important and memorible parts of this story and this was an awful version of it.

This was the first time in my life that I went to ballet without life music performed by an orchestra. It certainly made a difference. I also never went to a ballet performance with such a simple scene setup, I am used to a much bigger podium with a much nicer setup. Some of the ballet dancers were pretty good (probably 4 of them), but I'd been to much more impressive performances in Europe. In general, it was a disappointment, especially due to my high expectations (based on the fact that this was Moscow Ballet). Next time we will know better.

Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker is amazing, from the incredibly talented dancers to the beautiful costumes and scenery, and, of course, the music! My family and I attend this performance every year, and each one is a little different, so there is always something unexpected and new to look forward to. And amid the elegance and grace, there's always a touch of humor. On occasion, a dancer might even give a little wink to someone in the front row! Great fun! The ballet also incorporates young dancers (from pre-schoolers to teens) from a local dance school to play the childrens' roles--always delightful! This is a great holiday tradition for families with children of all ages. I highly recommend it!

I thought the Moscow ballet would be excellent, but we were quite disappointed. The music started and it was a very quiet recording. The lighting of the stage was poor and there were dark spots on the corners. The ballerina would come out to the corner and be in the dark. The worst part was the synchronization of the dancers. The first few scenes had dancing that made us question whether they were actually trying to dance not together. I would have expected the dancing to be in unison, but there were many moments where the dancing wasn't 'together'. It was completely bad, though. The lead ballerina was good, even though the support dancers weren't together.

Beautiful dancing. I loved the costumes!!! The children dancers were so cute!! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was there is no orchestra at Flint Center. It would have been perfect with an orchestra.

I am sorry to submit a disappointing review of this performance. First of all, I was expecting a live orchestra - and discovered that taped music was piped in. Perhaps half of the reason for attending the Nutcracker, for most, is the beautiful and inspiring music by the orchestra - so, not a great start for me. The second area was the inclusion of children in their performance - which I would initially say would be wonderful, had they played a role of observing the dancers from the background or entering and exiting to add to the Christmas magic. However, these children were woven into the entire production, not just once or twice, but throughout the production - causing, in my opinion, a distraction - as they were attempting to dance and were not dancers. The third comment is related to how the dancers stopped after a semi-solo , waiting for applause? This is expected for performers/acrobats , not dancers. And the waiting for applause and cheering was almost bizarre for this classis holiday ballet production. For what I paid for this ballet (and my Christmas anticipation) and what I rec'd - very disappointed and am, going forward, very suspect of a similar disappointment when the theater announces a "Ballet". By the way, if children trying to dance and keep up are to be a part of a production, just let me know and I ll attend on that accord. I have no intention to snub children from performances - just don t charge me over $50 to do so. I ll get to a great recital or children s dance at a school.

This was the 4th time that we attended the Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet. As previously, the performance was excellent. We really enjoyed the costumes and the addition of the Dove of Peace portion of the program.

The performance was absolutely magical! My first ballet at age 45 and I was completely enthralled. Can't wait to see another (:

My husband and I loved the show! It was a last minute date night suprise

Incredible dancing! Very Nice use of local talent!

The music was canned (not live orchestra) which was very disappointing. It was nice that local dance schools used all aged students but I feel that it should have been advertised as a local ballet production and not indicated as a international performance. Scenic and lighting design was very average.

I loved it !!! That was my first visit to Russian concert

I knew the Nutcracker, which haven't seen in about 35 years, would be tremendous, and I was right. The Lyric is a terrific venue, and sitting five rows back of the orchestra really made the performance and the music pop. The ballet was beautiful and even fun at times -- I like the combination of classic ballet and a little play and interaction with the audience. The highlight, based on crowd reaction, was the magnificent performance of the Arabian Dance; the dancers' feats of strength were awe-inspiring and yet graceful. That's not to take away from the rest of the performance, which was well worth the ticket price. Hat's off to the set designers and their vivid backdrops, which set the tone for the entire performance. I will definitely be back for more; thanks again for a wonderful night!

Seeing many different performances and versions of The Nutcracker has allowed me to appreciate the exemplary telling of Tchaikovsky's play. This is a timeless classic that everyone should take the time to see. The beauty and artistry that all the performers displayed was a joy to watch. The use of local talents intermixed with the regal elegance of the Russian dancers is one that will not be soon forgotten, both by those that performed but those that came to the show as well. Can't wait to se it again next year!!!

The Russian dancers were incredible! They danced with both poise and passion. Timing was great. Costumes and stage setup all looked wonderful. The facility was very nice. The show included some local talent from Accented Motions Dance Studio. The dance instructor who trained those girls should be applauded for her hard work! The kids were all adorable and did a fantastic job.

The performance was wonderful and exciting! I am hoping to take my mother next year to see the performance. I would recommend this to everyone!!!

I loved it, my 6 yr old twin boy/girl who have been taking dance lessons for 4 yrs loved it. They are still watching the dvd everyday. My husband who complains about almost everything didnt have one complaint. I liked that they used local dancers and the Russian dancers were amazing. I read a bad review in the local news and I disagree completely with the things they said. Bravo great dancing!

This show was beautiful! I loved the mix of scenes. I loved seeing the little children dance and perform with the adults. What a wonderful way to start off the holiday season!

I took my 3yr old grand-daughter and we were both so in love with the show. She wants to be a ballerina. The cast was awesome and so memerable that we will both remember this for the rest of our lives. Thanks!!

I had a wonderful time. I loved the costumes, choreography, and the scenery.

The ballet was awesome! First act highlight was the Jester's solo. Second act far superior to first act. Took my 8 year old daughter who, unfortunately, slept through the second act. To late for her without a nap but she loved what she saw!

My wife and I enjoyed it very much. Wish we could of gotten better seats. It was great!!

First of all, the Majestic Theater itself is beautiful. I can say that in all honesty and speak from experience. I have been to many musicals. As far away as to Broadway in New York. And your theater experience ranks right up there with some of the best. I was thoroughly pleased with the performance, Moscow knows how to turn out ballet dancers. It was my grand-daughter's first ballet and she was mesmerized. Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening.

The Russian Ballet offered a unique presentation of a classic ballet.

The Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker performance was very entertaining. The choreography for the different dances was, though I know nothing of ballet, a joy to watch. I was most impressed with the costumes. Also, local "ballet stars," children from Bexar studios, were nicely incorporated into the performance.

The Nutcracker was just as magical as an adult, as it was when I was a child. The costumers were stunning and the set was beautiful. The dancing was technical and graceful, just lost some of its magic when dancers missed their cues, though I'm sure not very many people caught that. I was also sad to see that the music was no longer performed by a live orchestra as that really adds to the experience. My other complaints have to do with the venue. Ushers were allowing people in after the show had started causing the stage to be difficult to see. Also people around me were talking through the entire show, it was rude and very frustrating. My tickets were a gift but I know they were not expensive, and I was disappointed in the lack of etiquette in my fellow attendees.

This was a very nice version of the classic favorite, Tchaikovsky's ballet ,The Nutcracker.This rendition was a light version in regards to the sets.The story was true to the more lavish productions but with more austere props. This in itself isn't a negative aspect but simply different.There was a puppet show added to the first act when the children were visited by Uncle Drosselmeyer.In the second act, the scene with Madame Bonbonaire was omited.Large headed puppets were present with international variations as a supporting act that was delightful and fun. The performers are top notch professionals and danced well .The only small snag with the experience overall was that the programs were not available until after intermission.If one is familiar with this show this was of no consequence.An added bonus for children and adults alike is that the patrons could get a photo with one of the performers for a modest fee.This Ballet company dose well for only being twenty years old and is a treat to watch perform.

Nutcracker was great for the entire family. I was disappointed that live musicains were not used, but it still was a great perfromance and would definitely recommend it!

I have wanted to go with my mother to see this for the longest time. Now that my little girl is old enough to understand, I finally purchased the tickets as a Christmas gift. I'm so glad I did. It was beautiful. At one point I noticed my 6 year old getting a little teary eyed and when I asked her what was wrong she replied, "I just like it so much." Priceless.

The Moscow Ballet did not disappoint. It's a must see for all!

This isn't Bolshoy Theater troop, the youngsters didn't eve try hard to perform well, weren't catching up to the music that was a recording not orchestra. Don't full yourself by going to see it! Seats were terrible. 95% of people bought seat on the very first floor but couldn't see anything besides front seating heads. After the break 50% of audience moved to upper floors.

The Moscow Ballet has outdone themselves this year! Everyone was enthrathed and their eyes were glued to the stage as the dancers amazed us with this newest version of the Nutcracker. Not a peep was heard until the final curtain came down. We are looking forward to attending again.

They took a lot of creative license, which I wasn't crazy about...no Mother Ginger and her polichinelles, for one. The dancing was fine, but nothing to write home about, with the exception of Arabian Coffee, which was AMAZING!! I thought the dancing of the Charleston Ballet's production was better. There also seemed to be a lot of filler and not as much beautiful dancing.

It was absolutely fantastic! The HSSD dancers added so much to the performance!

Very suitable for families. Fun, music, dance and laughter.

I've taken my daughter to see the Nutcracker since she was 4 years old - she's 18 now! It's always been a wonderful afternoon and such a rewarding event! This year I took my future daughter-in-law [who had never been] and we were very disappointed. . This performance was lackluster and unmoving - with the exception of the two principal dancers! We usually attend the local performance around Thanksgiving and it is always thoroughly entertaining, bright and colorful!

Never seen the Nutcracker before. Was a great story. I'm sure children would have loved it also.

This was a fantastic performance of the Nutcracker. The dancing, costumes and background illustrations were outstanding. Dance moves were flawless and performed with such grace. I enjoyed every moment the dancers were on stage where they translated a beautiful Christmas story into a magical dance. This is great entertainment for children and adults.

The Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker was wonderful in regards to staging, costumes and choreography. While the dancers were inspiring in their performances I was a bit disappointed with the piped in music. We were in row four and the speakers at the edge of the stage were extremely loud. As full orchestra's are a big expense I would suggest better placement of these speakers for those fortunate enough to purchase the seats close to the stage.

This is the second year we go see the Moscow Ballet. Co. Last year was better. This year the merchandise was better but the performance was very much lacking. This year the dancers were the spot light of the show. Not the story of the Nutcracker itself. I would not have spent my money had I known. Last year the dancers in the animal costumes had stage presence not this year. They also cut the story short. They did not do the farewell scene where the Prince's Mother, Father & citizens of the kingdom say farewell to Clara. This year they cut out the "Prisyadki" . That is the Russian dance step where the dancers go from a sitting position and kick out their legs. Love that move. It is great to watch. None of that this year. The story was shortened and there was more showing off of the dancers. I went to see the Nutcracker story Not the dancers themselves. I would not recommend this show and will not spend money to watch it next year, I think you should rent a CD of the Nutcracker and watch that instead. Save yourself the money & time. (plus the parking fees) I think I will go see the Ballet San Antonio Co. or a performance In Austin next year.

Ballet was awesome! Seats were a little close but cannot complain. A few of the speakers were in the way of our view.

This is the second year we have gone to see the Moscow Ballet co. do the Nutcracker at the San Antonio, Majestic Theater. I found this year while the merchandise is greatly improved. The performance was lacking.The Russian dance this year consisted of a male & female dancer and did not have any of the great "Prisyadki " dance steps of before. It's the move when the dancers kick out their legs from a sitting position. As if having been sitting for a long time and need to stretch out their legs.Also, there was little presence of the dancers in the animal costumes. Last year they danced more and had more stage presence. This year they also did not do the farewell scene where Clara is sent back home by the Prince's Mother, Father & citizen of the Kingdom.There was more showing off of the different dancers. I went to see the Nutcracker story performed not the dancers themselves. There was much of the actual Nutcracker story missing. I was greatly disappointed and don't believe I will buy tickets to see the Moscow Ballet Co. next year.I am considering going to see the Ballet somewhere in Austin or maybe the Ballet San Antonio do the performance. For the price I paid I would have been better served staying home and watching the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Co. performance that I have on CD. I would not recommend this show to my friends. It isn't worth the money it cost. The dancers were good, but the over all performance was very much lacking.

Even exhausted the dancers in the Moscow Ballet can rise to moments of perfection. Their discipline shines through their boredom with the music. For those of us who only hear this once a year, the score was delightfully unexpected in a few places. Individual dancers gave disciplined, even occasionally breathtaking performances, but the corps dances could have been better coordinated; one expects to see legs lifting at the same time to the same height, but in this case the dancers were each dancing their own program. As always the first act of the Nutcracker goes on too long; and in this case the party scene was particularly uninspiring, lacking the sense of relationship between children and adults. Drosselmeyer was delightful in every scene.

We have been taking our grandchildren to the Nutcracker Ballet in Charleston for as long as they were old enough to sit...That is now six years running...We made wonderful memories and loved our time together. This year, we decided to try The Russian Ballet's performance. Though we support and love our Charleston ballet, this was excellence from one end to the other. The dancers were superb in their grace and their athleticism, the costumes and sets were magnificent, the passion and electricity of the Company was the result of the grueling practices that dancers go through day after day to arrive at such a performance. Even Grandpa, who usually "puts up with going to the ballet" was dumbstruck at the performance and from our 8 year old boy to the 10 year old girl and the two grandparents, we were totally entertained. Thank you..... to all involved.

For the price of the tickets I expected an orchestra. Instead we had tape recorded music that was sometimes full of hiss in the recording. Not all of the professional dancers were at the top of their game. I expected much more for the price we paid. Sorry - won't go here again.

I was excited to go to this event but I was disappointed in the level of Production. It seemed more like like an amateur event but that could've been because the stage was so small. It definitely was not what I expected from the Moscow ballet.

I have been wanting to see The Nutcracker for so many years but I never got around to it.... and now I know why. The dancers do have true talent, this much is true, but the Nutcracker needs a face life... and badly. The dancing I can appreciate. Those men and women are truly talented. However, the music and Moscow's rendition of the Nutcracker had my daughter and I sleeping in the second half. I missed the ending. It was probably the music. They have local dancer's come in as background dancers, and I honestly think that this gave the production a "cheap" feel to it. The kids of all ages are cute, but shouldn't be in the Moscow's ballet of the Nutcracker. Maybe a cheaper performance. Some of the costumes were silly too. Perhaps I expected too much (I do live in Las Vegas, and go to NYC a couple times a year just for the shows). I am more into musicals and Cirque shows versus ballet.

I have seen the Nutcracker every year for the past 17 years. I attend San Jose Ballet, S.F. Ballet,etc. We thought we would try Moscow. We had no problem paying $90.00 per ticket, which is what we typically pay for a major ballet company. However, we were very disappointed to find that Moscow Ballet performs with children who are basically performing a recital. I did not pay $90.00 per ticket ($270 total), to see little children running around and distracting me from seeing the performers from the Moscow Ballet. If I knew this was a recital, for a local dance school, I would not have purchased tickets. IT is very unfair that there was no indication that approximately 30 children would perform with the Moscow Ballet company. This is not fair and I wish I culd have both my money and my time back.

The scenery was nice. The choreography of the "international dances" was ok, (all were done as a pas de deux), but personally I prefer the more "situational" international dances as in San Francisco's version. The choreography of all the rest of the ballet was very nicely done -- the quality of the dance was very good throughout. The principal dance parts were very nicely performed. The Moscow company partners with local dance schools -- they utilized members of the school to augment the program and it was a nice addition. Considering this was a matinee and there were many children, it was quite quiet and with few exceptions the kids were well behaved. As always, there were a few conversations between parent/child which indicated that the parent had not appropriately prepped the child for the event. If they would tell the child the story and what to expect (as well as proper etiquette) there would be no annoying moments for the rest of the audience.

Entertaining; family oriented; talented dancers; loved the community involvement with having local dancers in the performance.

I paid to see the prestigious Russian ballet. Instead I got a bunch of little kids dancing out of sync. There should have been a disclaimer. I will never watch another show at this venue. It took 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot and 30 minutes to get a drink from the concession stand. Overall it was an awful very expensive experience.

It just keeps getting better every year. It's just an amazing show with so many beautiful costumes and so much color. My granddaughter just can't wait to go see it again next year. She loves to take her annual picture with the ballerina and buy a different momento every year.

I must admit I thought I would like it more. I thought the small children in the show were a distraction from the real talent. The first half was a little slow for me but I really enjoyed the second half. If you have never seen it then I would recommend you do, however, I would not see it a second time.

The Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker was a great show for te whole family. My 5-year daughter was mesmerized. The dancers were awesome and the whole production was great!

The Moscow Ballet was beautiful and stunning. This is my favorite Christmas gift ever to see this ballet in El Paso.

What a joke! When you hear Russian ballet you think top quality, unforgettable performance, and a great experience! WRONG!!! There were no props, ancient backdrops and worst of all local "talent" used during most every dance. It was as if all of the dancers had to "dumb down" their dance just to make it fit with little 5 year olds! Now don't get me wrong, if that was what I had PAID for it would have been adorable! But at 70 bucks a ticket I paid to see top ballet dancers preform a spectacular tradition and I feel it was falsely advertised! The Arabian Dance was spectacular but you know it was bad when the prima ballerina got a half-hearted ovation!

this ballet really disappointed me. Don't get me wrong, the starring dancers were great, but the story was changed and there were too many little kids that gave the ballet an unprofessional look.