One of my favorite family Christmas traditions is to see a Christmas play, ballet or musical. Historically, we used to see the Nutcracker at the Music Hall at Fair Park, which is one of my favorite productions, every other year.  The stage set was magical, and the costumes were amazing.

On the alternating years, we might see A Christmas Carol or some other performing art being held in Dallas.

With time, it has been more and more difficult to get the family together for these evenings.  Lately we may go two or three years without getting to see the Nutcracker or other holiday program.

A few years ago, we decided to see the Nutcracker, but this time we chose the Moscow Ballet’s production at SMU. I am glad we saw it because it was a vastly different production.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker, I will always consider the Texas Ballet’s former production as the gold standard, probably because that is what I am used to seeing. I understand they have a new production that they now perform.

Like so many performing arts, ballet in the Metroplex has been forced to make some changes.  Back in 1988, Dallas lost its professional ballet company, the Dallas Ballet.  Eventually the Ft. Worth Ballet morphed into what is now the Texas Ballet.  So, Dallas is incredibly lucky to still have a ballet company.

The ballet performances have moved from the Music Hall at Fair Park to the Winspear Opera House, which is a lovely venue.

There are also other productions of the Nutcracker around the area, as well other holiday performing arts offerings.

When my nephew was little, we would take him every year to see the Nutcracker. He was often as entertained with the sequins on the floor as he was with the dancing on the stage. Not only did this entertain him for an evening, but it also opened his eyes to the world of performing arts. Even though he is more a hunting and fishing kind of guy, when I ask him to accompany me to the theatre, he never complains (of course, I always select something I know he will enjoy).

This year, we are planning to watch the Texas Ballet Theatre’s production of the Nutty Nutcracker and the Nutcracker both online.  We will likely be on our couch, wrapped in a warm blanket with hot tea and a plate full of gingerbread men.  Although I will miss the experience being in a live audience, I will not miss fighting the traffic and parking to get there.  Who knows…I may even get gussied-up just to make it feel more like an experience.

Are the performing arts part of your holiday traditions with your family? If so, what do productions do you like to see?