Maurice Bejart's The Nutcracker

A little boy sits by a feeble Christmas tree from which salvaged garlands sadly hang.Suddenly, in a dream or by magic, his dead mother appears and places a small gift at the foot of the tree.An enchanted night begins in which a miraculous icon, friends, angels and light fill the room along with laughter and awe-inspiring dance.Is it a dream or is it reality?

Maurice Bejart's version of the well-loved Christmas ballet is magical.His staging transforms the piece into an enchanting autobiography and a loving homage to the choreographer's mother and his creative hero, Marius Petipa.The stage is flooded with allusions to Bejart's actual and imaginary history, including both real and symbolic characters mixed with childhood memories to create a universe of feeling that reaches its peak in a faithful recreation of the original Pas de Deux -- a true declaration of love.