The Nutcracker: Where to stream for Christmas 2020
Looking for your Christmas 2020 Nutcracker fix? We’ve got you covered.
This holiday season looks a lot different than in most years, and one way Christmas 2020 looks sort of bleak is on the dance floor. Most theatres are shut down, which means that annual tradition of going out to see a production of The Nutcracker? Not so annual now.
Even for people otherwise outside of the ballet world, The Nutcracker is a vital part of this time of year. There’s just something about hearing Tchaikovsky’s music that just says, “yes, it’s Christmas time,” even if the only thing that’s really “Christmas” about the whole thing is the party at the very beginning.
While nothing will ever compare to actually seeing a live performance, the situation isn’t completely hopeless. There are still ways to take your magical trip outside of reality with the Nutcracker Prince. You might even see a little bit of dancing while you’re at it.
Where to stream The Nutcracker for Christmas 2020
One of the most obvious ways to try to capture the feeling of watching the ballet live is to try to find a performance of The Nutcracker on TV or one of the many, many streaming services. This year, there are a couple of options for doing this.
First up, Amazon Prime Video has the TV performance of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Nutcracker, which aired in 1977. There’s probably not much more that needs to be said about this other than “Baryshnikov,” but it bears mentioning that the great Gelsey Kirkland also stars.
Don’t have a Prime account? No problem. You can stream three different ballet companies’ visions of the holiday classic on Ovation’s website as part of their 2020 “Battle of the Nutcrackers.” Having so many options is definitely a plus—just think about how expensive it would be to get seats, much less good ones, to see all these performances from all over the world!
Give these documentaries about making The Nutcracker a try
We’ve already talked extensively about how much we love Dance Dreams: The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. But since it fits the theme, let’s just say you should watch it if you haven’t already. Go. Now. Stop reading, and fire up that Netflix! (Or maybe finish reading, and then immediately jump over. Whichever.)
On top of the positive message about dance and Debbie Allen’s inspirational story, you’ll also get to see some of the show. It’s a completely reimagined story that’s more inclusive with both its world-building and its dance styles. But fear not: Everything that makes the more traditional story kick off your Christmas season is still there.
If you’re looking to see more about the traditional ballet, there are two good options: Disney Plus has a docuseries called On Pointe, which premieres on Dec. 18 and follows students at the School of American Ballet. As part of their season, they have to rehearse for George Balanchine’s version of The Nutcracker. You can also stream a behind-the-scenes look at The Joffrey’s new reimagining of the ballet on PBS.
You can also stream movies we’ll call The Nutcracker lite
‘Tis not the season without a slew of cheesy Christmas movies from Hallmark. In 2016, they gifted us with A Nutcracker Christmas, starring Amy Acker, Sascha Radetsky, and Sophia Lucia.
It has that general Hallmark Christmas feel but also a little bit of a ballet subplot, so if you want to watch something that gets you in the mood without having to see the entire production, this might be a good place to start. The movie will re-air as part of the network’s “Countdown to Christmas” on Dec. 9 at 9:00 EST.
Missed that Dec. 9 broadcast? Don’t worry. Streaming services are here for you. Misty Copeland appears as a “Ballerina Princess” in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, which released in 2018. It’s light on the ballet, yet high on beautiful scenery and that certain fairytale something. You can stream it now on Disney Plus.
If you want to try a different movie, The Secret of the Nutcracker is available to stream on Hulu. This movie adds a World War II background and a girl who just wants to see her dad again to the familiar story. It’s worth a watch as yet another take on the classic—and yet another way to get you ready for Christmas 2020.
However you watch, we hope you enjoy and that it brings just a little bit of that familiar warmth to the long, cold winter! And if “Waltz of the Flowers” happens to get stuck in your head, is that really such a bad thing?
What’s your favorite way to stream The Nutcracker? Leave us a comment!