49 Years of The Nutcracker: Ballet Midwest’s Christmas Tradition

Every December, Ballet Midwest brings to life a holiday tradition in Topeka that spans generations: The Nutcracker. For 49 years, audiences young and old have gathered at the Topeka Performing Arts Center (White Concert Hall before that) to be transported into Clara’s magical world — a world of toy soldiers, snow-kissed forests, and the Land of the Sweets.

What makes this production so special is not only its timeless story and Tchaikovsky’s sweeping score, but how it becomes a bridge across age groups: grandparents, parents, siblings, toddlers, and teenagers can all find joy in it together.

A Tradition Passed Down

For many families in Topeka, the Ballet Midwest Nutcracker is a yearly ritual. Parents who once sat wide-eyed in the audience now bring their own children, pointing out favorite scenes — the Nutcracker’s battle with the Mouse King, the swirling snow, the Sugar Plum Fairy — with the same delight they remember from their first viewing. It becomes a kind of cultural inheritance: “Remember when you were that little mouse?” one generation might tease another.

Ballet Midwest underscores that family connection with ticketing options catered to intergenerational attendance. Adults 55+ and youth (under 18) enjoy a reduced ticket price ($17 when purchased via certain channels) while family-pack options help make attendance easier for households, $60 for 2 adults and 2 children.

Involving Young Dancers and Community Outreach

One of the most tangible ways Ballet Midwest draws in younger generations is via participation. The company includes local auxiliary dancers in the production — students, novices, and community dancers who get to share the stage. Third generation dancers grace the stage as their families watch in the audience with pride. As these young dancers rehearse and perform alongside seasoned company members, they build confidence, skill, and a real sense of ownership in a community art form.

Beyond the stage, Ballet Midwest hosts outreach efforts such as offering a free Nutcracker performance for area 4th-grade students along with going out in the community to perform small sections of different dances. This means children who might never otherwise see ballet in person get to experience the magic firsthand — sometimes becoming part of the tradition themselves.

Shared Moments That Echo Across Ages

Certain moments in the performance tend to evoke collective gasps or delighted murmurs from every age group. The transformation of the Christmas tree, giant snowflakes drifting in the forest, the dramatic battle with mice and soldiers — all are theatrical treats that don’t require ballet knowledge to enjoy. (To younger attendees, these moments can be dazzling “magic tricks.”)

Moreover, many longtime audience members relish subtle changes in each annual staging: new choreography flourishes, fresh costuming, maybe a twist in set design. Comparing year to year becomes a game for returning patrons — “Did you catch the new flower costumes?” — and gives even the oldest attendee a renewed interest.

A Community Standard

Because it’s local, the Ballet Midwest Nutcracker feels like “our” production. It’s not a touring company passing through. Neighbors and schoolmates often appear in the cast, making the show a community effort. That helps cement a feeling of shared ownership across generations: “I know someone up there!” adds extra excitement even for casual attendees.

Furthermore, the Topeka tradition has stood for so long — first staged in 1977 and continuing year after year — that many multigenerational families have grown up with it. That continuity is powerful: grandparents might say, “I saw this when I was your age,” and children respond, “One day I’ll bring my kids too.”

Ballet Midwest’s The Nutcracker is more than a ballet; it’s a seasonal ritual combining imagination, music, spectacle, and community. The production succeeds at weaving all these threads together so that grandparents hold hands with tiny toddlers, teenagers cheer for the mouse king, adults reflect on traditions, and new dancers step bravely into the spotlight. In doing so, it reminds us that art is timeless — and that some performances truly belong to every generation.

Fun Facts:

• All local talent! All the dancers involved are trained right here in Northeast Kansas. Many grow up performing in the Nutcracker every year with dreams of the day they perform the lead roles in the production.
• It’s the longest running Nutcracker in Northeast Kansas.
• Terrific lighting and theatrical effects to behold – smoking cannons, lighting flashes, growing sets, falling snow and more.
• Costumes are stunning! The level of detail with Victorian lace and sequins makes the dancers shine on stage.
• Christmas tree grows over 20 feet in front of your eyes.
• Acting plays a major role in the production – Shannon Reilly (Topeka Civic Theatre’s Artistic Director) consistently creates magic on stage as Clara’s godfather. Each cast member similarly strives to bring out the best in their role, whether scary or stunning, magical or mysterious.
• Incredible pas de deux (dance of two) to view: enjoy watching strong men lift ladies overhead, allowing them to gracefully hover in the air, spin with precision and glide through space.

-Lee Hartman | Metro Voice

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