Question: When was the first performance of the Nutcracker Ballet?
Answer: The first showing of the Nutcracker Ballet was in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia, home of the Kirov Ballet. The ballet was conducted by Riccardo Drigo and choreographed by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa. However, the performance was not very successful, receiving poor reviews from critics.
The ballet made its way to Western Europe in the 1930’s and to America by 1940, performed by Ballet Russe. The first full-length American version of The Nutcracker was performed by the San Francisco Ballet, staged by its artistic director Willam Christensen. The New York City Ballet first performed George Balanchine's Nutcracker in 1954.
