Ballet Des Moines was blessed with a snowy opening night for The Nutcracker last Thursday at Hoyt Sherman Place. For ballet companies across the world, the production of The Nutcracker is both the close to the fall season and a company’s most attended performance, thanks to its ties to holiday tradition and nostalgia. With the ubiquity of the show in the ballet world, the production becomes something like a litmus test for a company — can they stand out and maintain the magic of the source material while modernizing for today’s market?
Ballet Des Moines’ 2026 production of The Nutcracker was a blend of innovation and tradition, wisely sidestepping outdated aspects in the second act and ultimately bringing a charming twist to a holiday classic.
Ballet Des Moines welcomed a wide array of audiences to The Nutcracker this year, touring in multiple cities, inviting schools to attend matinee performances and offering sensory friendly shows. This production also featured a large cast from the community, giving aspiring young dancers the chance to perform alongside the company’s roster of professional artists and apprentices.
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines.
The Christmas party scene was a charming start to the evening, featuring mischievous children, exasperated parents, and a doddering grandfather. Madison Veach performed the role of Clara with youthful exuberance, and Noah Klarck was a prowling Drosselmeyer, Clara’s mysterious godfather who spent much of the party swirling his sequin cape like a flamboyant magician.
I enjoyed most of the subtle changes made to the story for this production. The decision to have Drosselmeyer give the children books was a clever foreshadowing device, providing the audience a glimpse of characters that would make appearances in the second act.
The nighttime battle lacked animosity, but the army of mice was adorably chaotic. Ellis Olson took command of the toy soldiers as the Nutcracker Prince. The young dancer performed admirably, especially considering his paper-mache nutcracker head was nearly as tall as he was. The Mouse King, portrayed by Joleen Gamez, was amusing but not particularly threatening, and when the Nutcracker Prince landed the killing blow, the transition to the next scene was so rushed it left the audience reeling.
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines.
The final scene of the first act was absolute holiday magic. The stage transformed into a winter wonderland, snow falling as dancers swirled in graceful flurries. As an opening night treat, the Heartland Youth Choir accompanied the ballet from the balcony, their voices bringing Tchaikovsky’s ethereal music to life. Savannah Cox and Gabriel Hartman were enchanting as the Snow Queen and King. Smooth as ice, they glided across the stage, welcoming Clara and the audience into a sweet dream.
The second act veered further from the typical version of The Nutcracker, a wise approach given the culturally insensitive aspects of more traditional productions. Instead of a sugary land of sweets, Ballet Des Moines opted for a woodland realm inhabited by a menagerie of flora and fauna.
A pair of prancing deer, Blaise Houchin and Elianna Price, were the first to welcome Clara and her prince to their land. A trio soon followed, Kate Anderson as the graceful Betta Splendens accompanied by Gabriel Hartman and Rune Houchin as two swirling water currents. Eddie Kidd and Noah Klarck were crowd favorites as a pair of bouncing Hares, easily overcoming an unfortunate issue with the sound at the beginning of their dance.
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines. 
Scene from Ballet Des Moines’ 2025 production of The Nutcracker — photo by Ryan Morrison courtesy of Ballet Des Moines.
Jordan Powers was an effervescent Iris, surrounded by twirling lilacs. A trio of acrobatic young grasshoppers made way for Mother Earth, Todd Rhoades in lush drag, and her swarm of butterflies. As the Dew Drop Fairy, Megan Boyette led a vibrant bouquet of flowers in their iconic waltz.
The Sugar Plum Fairy, Amelia Grubb Hillman, and her Cavalier, Logan Hillman, provided a stunning finale to this fairytale. Both dancers demonstrated controlled grace and strength that provoked applause from the audience throughout their pas de deux.
This enthusiasm carried through to the end of the ballet and followed the audience out into the snow after the curtain descended. Ballet Des Moines delivered the magic that has made The Nutcracker a heartfelt holiday tradition, one I am certain will continue for many years to come.
