From Santander Arena & Performing Arts Center
The show will take place at Santander Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.
World Ballet Company proudly announces its 2026 holiday tour of The Nutcracker — a dazzling, family-friendly production of the world’s most beloved ballet, featuring a live orchestra. With nearly 50 performances scheduled nationwide from late November through December, the company will bring this timeless classic to audiences across the United States.
A world-class international cast, more than 150 radiant hand-sewn costumes, and richly detailed hand-painted sets come together with immersive projections and multimedia effects to create a magical holiday experience. From the glittering Christmas Eve party and the thrilling midnight battle between the Nutcracker’s soldiers and the Mouse King’s army to the enchanting Waltz of the Snowflakes and the colorful Land of Sweets, each scene bursts with beauty, imagination, and theatrical wonder. Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score, performed live, brings warmth, drama, and excitement to every moment.
“Our goal is to make ballet accessible without compromising its artistry,” said company director Sasha Gorskaya. “We created this Nutcracker for everyone — from families seeing ballet for the first time to audiences who have loved it all their lives. With live orchestral music bringing Tchaikovsky’s score to life, it’s a world-class experience that celebrates joy, imagination, and togetherness.”
A cherished holiday tradition for generations, The Nutcracker remains one of the most popular ballets in the world. According to audience surveys, more than 60 percent of World Ballet Company attendees are seeing ballet live for the very first time — making this tour a true gateway to the art form for families and newcomers alike.
The run time is 1 hour 40 minutes (including a 20-minute intermission). The show is recommended for ages 2 and up. Tickets and full tour details can be found at worldballetcompany.com.
About the World Ballet Company
The World Ballet Company is driven by the belief that ballet is for everyone.
Based in Los Angeles and led by Sasha Gorskaya and Gulya Hartwick, World Ballet Company expands audiences for ballet and creates a new structure for world-class ballet companies. With no corporate or donor backing, it leverages decades of combined entertainment expertise to create, produce, and tour original productions that appeal to newcomers and seasoned balletgoers alike. By presenting in cities with less access to ballet, the company introduces the art form to new audiences while offering established ballet fans an annual occasion to look forward to.
The company is composed of renowned professional dancers representing over 10 countries. The family-friendly productions feature timeless scores, rich storytelling, vivid hand-painted sets, and stunning hand-crafted costumes. To date, World Ballet Company has traveled to more than 280 cities, reaching an audience of more than 600,000, many of whom are first-time attendees to a ballet.
World Ballet Company – Ballet Everywhere, Ballet for All.
About Santander Arena
Santander Arena opened in September 2001 and has served as one of the region’s premier destinations for live entertainment for 25 years. Located in downtown Reading, the Arena hosts concerts, family entertainment, sporting events, community events, and Reading Royals hockey. Throughout its history, the venue has welcomed some of the biggest names in entertainment while continuing to create memorable experiences for fans throughout the region.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development, across four continents.
Visit OakViewGroup.com and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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