Butler Ballet: The Nutcracker

Butler Ballet: The Nutcracker at Clowes Memorial Hall

Tchaikovsky's music, an orchestra, a children's choir and dancers together give this Nutcracker a distinctive Indianapolis sound. On December 5 at 2:00 PM, Butler Ballet brings The Nutcracker to Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, and a Saturday afternoon becomes the kind of outing your family talks about long after the decorations come down. Here's the thrill of seeing it live: the music never comes from a speaker. Tchaikovsky's score is played by the Butler Ballet Orchestra, joined by the Indianapolis Children's Choir and directed by Richard Auldon Clark. Real musicians and young voices share the room with the dancers. You hear the sound rise, and you feel the stage respond. A recording can't give you that.

Butler Ballet advertises dancing, costumes, scenery and pyrotechnics, a full production built to make a story come alive in front of you. And Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles return this year, a moment for anyone who loves the show's playful side. Bring the kids who still believe in magic. Bring the parent who has seen it before and wants to see it again. Bring the friend who needs a reason to See the performance live.

This is Butler Ballet's own full production, running December 3-6 at Clowes Memorial Hall, and the December 5 matinee is a natural fit for a day built around togetherness. Hand someone you love a memory that sparkles. Reserve your seats for Butler Ballet's The Nutcracker in Indianapolis and make this holiday season a little more magical.