Life
'Tis 'The Nutcracker' season.
Christmas, the annual celebration marking the birth of Jesus Christ, is perhaps the most significant holiday for billions of people worldwide. The holiday season is filled with traditions that transcend borders: cheerful carols, beautifully decorated trees and the joy of gift-giving.
One tradition that Busan is lucky to have is the annual staging of "The Nutcracker," the timeless ballet masterpiece by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Since its premiere in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, "The Nutcracker" has been a beloved mainstay of the Christmas season. It follows the tale of a young girl, usually named Clara, embarking on a thrilling Christmas Eve adventure. The show combines Tchaikovsky's brilliant score, captivating dance and fairy tale magic with the wonder of Christmas.
While every performance of the ballet follows a basic outline, the presentation and content may vary by production. Luckily, Santa has provided Busanites with various renditions of the holiday classic. Busan is Good introduces each "Nutcracker" performance for those who want to experience the magical winter wonderland.
Sofia City Ballet from Bulgaria.
■ Sofia City Ballet
Bulgaria's renowned Sofia City Ballet will perform "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 22 and 23 at BEXCO Auditorium. Established in 2009, SCB comprises dancers from distinguished ballet schools worldwide.
"The Nutcracker" marks SCB's debut in Busan, after previously performing "Swan Lake" at the Sejong Center in Seoul in April 2014. SCB promises to wow audiences with a magical story, glamorous costumes and mesmerizing choreography.
。BEXCO: 55 APEC-ro, Haeundae-gu
。Tickets (￦): VIP 120,000, R 90,000, S 70,000 and A 50,000
。Link: mobileticket.interpark.com/goods/23012827
■ Wise Ballet Theater
Wise Ballet Theater will stage "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 24 and 25 at the Busan Cinema Center. The company, founded in 2005, is Korea's foremost performing arts troupe and holds nearly 100 domestic and international performances annually. Wise Ballet Theater has received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Award at the 49th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards in 2017 and the Grand Prize of the Edaily Cultural Awards in 2022.
Audiences of all ages will be captivated by the troupe's colorful and sparkling rendition.
。Busan Cinema Center: 120 Suyeonggangbyeon-daero, Haeundae-gu
。Tickets (￦): R 60,000, S 50,000 and A 30,000
。Link: mobileticket.interpark.com/goods/23015737
■ Family Musical
For an easy-to-access version suitable for little ones, try "Nutcracker" musicals, which feature simplified stories and choreography. The catchy songs and energetic dancing engage audiences of all ages.
Performances will be held at the Sungwon Art Hall on Dec. 16 and 17 and at the Dongnae Cultural Center on Dec. 24.
。The Sungwon Arts Hall: 8F Sungwon BD, 88 Myeongji Ocean City 4-ro, Myeongji-dong, Gangseo-gu
。Dongnae Cultural Center: 80 Munhwa-ro, Dongnae-gu
。Tickets (￦): 22,000 / 24,800
。Link(Dongnae Cultural Center): mobileticket.interpark.com/goods/23015005
。Link(Sungwon Arts Hall): mobileticket.interpark.com/goods/23014993