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With No 'Nutcracker,' New York City Ballet Dancers Make Their Next Move

Photo credit: Hiroyuki Ito - Getty Images
Photo credit: Hiroyuki Ito - Getty Images

From Town & Country

In different circumstances, the Sugarplum Fairy and Mouse King would be spending each night sashaying across the Lincoln Center stage. This year, they've had to rain check.

One of the New York's most famous holiday traditions, "The Nutcracker" is a mainstay for the New York City Ballet. Also the company's most lucrative production, the show earned more than $15.3 million in ticket sales last year, out of about $35 million in total. Of course, like most live, in-person events in 2020, this year's performances were cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. The company has not performed in their home, Lincoln Center, since March.

Given the company's financial strain, many NYCB dancers had to go on unemployment insurance this year, taking major pay cuts. Because of these difficult circumstances, the company's 99 dancers and two stage managers launched Dancers of NYCB, a platform to support the company financially and creatively until regular performances resume.

The organization already hosted an event in October, performing on the roof of the Empire Hotel, just half a block from Lincoln Center. The show included six short works, including three premieres, all performed live for a small, distanced and masked audience. NYCB dancers Daniel Applebaum and Lauren King produced the program, along with Melissa Gerstein, a former dancer and current School of American Ballet parent.

"It was really rewarding to bring people together and to put on some sort of live dance," King tells T&C. "I know everyone was really emotional afterwards, just with the opportunity to perform again for a live audience and be on a stage, even though it was not our normal stage."

According to King, the Dancers of NYCB organization is not planning on hosting any more live events until the spring, when the weather will be nice enough to perform outside. Instead, the group is taking on other forms of fundraising. On December 4, the Dancers of NYCB launched an online auction to support their relief fund. The proceeds will also aid members of the AGMA union, which includes the NYCB, opera and concert singers, other dancers, and associated production personnel.

The auction's offerings include a virtual coffee with CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, an assortment of Sarah Jessica Parker's favorite shoes, Jennifer Garner's must-have cooking essentials, and a framed copy of the Pirates of the Caribbean score, autographed by Hans Zimmer. There are also ballet-related experiences, like a Zoom turning class with NYCB principal dancer Tiler Peck.

Photo credit: Gonzalo Marroquin - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gonzalo Marroquin - Getty Images

Perhaps the most delightful options, though, are the personal donations from the dancers themselves. Ballerina Marika Anderson is offering to design custom nail art for one lucky patron. Principal dancer Ashley Bouder is donating a pair of leg warmers she knit herself. And, dancers Emily Kikta, Lauren King, and Gretchen Smith are hosting a virtual "Cat Ladies Hang" with their pets.

"[The auction has] been a really nice way to show what dancers can offer outside of dancing," notes King. "Obviously, the goal is to be back on stage and dancing again, but it’s been really nice to show off other aspects of our talents in this way."

The silent auction is currently in progress and will close December 16 at 9pm EST. Find the full slate of biddable items here.

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