I agree with the ending. Both represent two different ideas. You can't choose one or the other. Royal ballet with classic traditional queen look. Canada, with its more whimsical, energetic, fairy look. One you expect to see for the sugar plum. The other you are pleasantly surprised to see. Both are number one in their respective categories.
To me, Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker is THE Nutcracker! I just love absolutely everything about it 🧚♀️🎄 Edit: Eden’s “cause it’s Christmas” was the cutest thing ever!!! I melt 🥹🥹
I'm so happy nboc is getting recognition! This is my second and final year performing in the production as a unicorn, and both male and female children and courtiers! (the dancers in the red costumes) If you are in Canada, I would definitely recommend watching!
Congrats on being in the production! 🎉 NBS students are always extremely professional and a highlight of the show. I might see you on stage next Friday! 😊
In German, we only say "Sugar fairy", thus the completly purple costume got me by suprise! Interesting how language shaped my expectations for a costume.
Originally sugar plums had nothing to do with plums. The term referred to something (nuts, almonds, cherries) covered in layers of sugar - like Jordan almonds or German Zuckermandeln. Tasting History with Max Miller did a whole clip about the etymology and even features a (completely bonkers) recipe.
Love that you said the royal ballet’s looks like cake because it’s so true! The second act set is literally the cake the children receive in the party scene 🎂😂 Definitely some hard decisions had to be made on this one! 🍬🩰✨
National Ballet of Canada representation! Woohoo! I'm seeing their Nutcracker in a week. Edit: yay they won! I can't wait to see it in person. The dancer in the clip you played from NBOC, Genevieve Penn Nabity, is beautiful. I've seen her live as Kitri and Myrtha, and they're such different roles, but shes amazing in both!
To this day, Marianela Nunez's Sugar plum variation in that costume encapsulates all of the magic, sparkle, and elegance of the Nutcracker and classical ballet, as overplayed as the variation may be -- so I have to go with Royal Ballet! However, the Canada and Australian national ballets are also stunningly designed -- they are all lovely in their own ways! Amazing video as always -- looking forward to the birthday party celebration! :)
I am so very excited for this one. When I would go to different nutcracker performances as a little girl, I always looked forward to the seeing what the Sugar Plum Fairy's costume would look like because every company's was different.
I've seen the NBOC's Nutcracker many times (because I work there) and I must say it is a spectacular show, probably one of the best nutcrackers out there and the costumes are incredible. My personal favourite is the Snow Queen and the Snowflakes which I have had the chance to see up close a few times and those tutus are truly stunning. I'd also like to add that the Sugar Plum Fairy tutu is a lot more sparkly under the stage lights than in the photos and video, that girl glitters with every movement.
My pick is the Nàtional Ballet of Canada for the win. I think both children and adults would see it as the best, even seeing them both in motion this one was definitely the pick.
I found your channel this fall and have been in love! I always wanted to be a ballerina when I was little. I was mesmerized by as a little girl and used to walk on my tip toes everywhere I went. Unfortunately my parents couldn’t afford lessons so it never happened. But your channel makes my inner child so happy
For me San Francisco is giving fairy, royal ballet is giving sugar plum and queen, and national ballet of Canada is giving the full Sugar Plum Fairy Queen!
I love these videos just because I love looking at tutus. They're all so pretttttyyyyyy. But I'd love a Sugar Plum Attendant edition! Give me allllll the sparkly sugar plum goodness. Royal Ballet all the way. The first time I saw the pas de deux it was what I considered to be the absolute pinnacle of ballet in like, 6 minutes. I wish that I could remember who the stars were in the first one I watched because I can't find it anywhere, and it was my favorite one. All of the dancers they cast in the role are beautiful, but that first one captivated me like none other.
I have to be honest I really didn’t like the national ballet of Canada costume from the picture, but as soon as I saw it in the video I loved it. The colours blended so perfectly and they looked so much softer in the stage lights.
Ladies, in the Balanchine nutcracker the sugar plum fairy wears a dress at the beginning of act 2 when she does her solo variation. She wears a completely different tutu for the pas de deluxe and coda. Originally this tutu was a dusty mauve I believe it is currently light green
I have only seen the Swedish version of the nutcracker, choreographed by Pär Isberg. It is based on a Swedish children’s book and contains some of our old traditions, but with the same wonderful music. It doesn’t have a sugarplum, instead it’s the maid who dances her solo. I really love this version, you should totally watch it😊
I wish more sugar plum fairies were a dusty light purple instead of just pink or white... Cause we already get the pink with the flowers and sweets and so many other ballets, especially with Sleeping Beauty. She is THE fairy of sugar plums... it would make sense if it was more sugary purple instead of pink or white.
As a San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker lifer (been going since 1994 at 9 years old, since I was 3 at a local company), I am *thrilled* it made it to the top 3. And I just have to point out that its also a call back to Act One. The tutu was designed to look like the dancing dolls tutu (ours weighs 18 pounds?! I have no idea how they moveso gracefully in that costume 🤯) from the party scene. I love how Helgi (former artistic director) tied so much imagery from Act One throughout his production.
I have to say that I love the tutu ,with these little wings🤩, of Canada national Ballet but the Royal Ballet tutu has something so magical and unique and that’s why I would say that I like the Royal Ballet one a bit more. But it is very hard to choose.
Thanks for the shout out to the National Ballet of Canada’s spectacular Nutcracker. I see this version every year and the richness of Santo Loquasto’s sets and costume never ceases to amaze me. If you loved the SPF tutu, please check out the Snow Queen costume on the NBoC feeds! ✨Stunning! ✨
the use of purples in the national ballet of canada's costume is divine to me. but at the end of the day the australian ballet's costume has my heart, especially as the one i'd want to wear the most and the one that'd enchant me the most as a child. royal is a very close second though! it looks much prettier in action to me than it does in the still you guys showed.
I think just for sheer gorgeousness, Canada's Sugar Plum has it. Incidentally, have just realised that the Australian Ballet Nutcracker is the same as Birmingham Royal Ballet's (I'm biased but it's my absolute favourite version ever). Thank you! xxx
I THINK THE SAME, honestly the final decision left me in a total crossroads xD. Of all the costumes, my favorite apart from the three winners, YES, ALL OF THEM ARE WINNERS BECAUSE XDD for me, were the ones from the Bolshoi Ballet, the Australian Ballet and the ABT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS, THEY DESERVE IT. I'm very excited about your channel's birthday celebration, really having found you is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. MERRY CHRISTMAS 🌲🌟🍭😍 PS: Right now apart from blaming Barbie and the Nutcracker, I blame the moment when I saw the best sugar plum fairy when I was a child, Nina Kaptsova from the Bolshoi where my standards were very simplistic :'p
omg i was binge watching your videos the other day and i was literally gonna comment that yall should do a sugarplum costume showdown bc every company’s costume is so different HAHAHAHA so glad you guys did this 🫶
Personal pick~ Adult Me: The ABT, cuz I love the unique concept of the powdered sugar. Child Me: Australia! Cuz it’s so close to the Barbie Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum costume! (yes, the animation was janky but that was my first exposure to ballet. Also am a full time animator 👋)
30:31 i’ve been watching the channel from the start and didn’t realize you are sisters, lol i always thought you were just close friends! (also royal ballet is my fav - i know some people don’t like it, but i love the sparkly wig)
To be honest, I have known and seen only a few of these ranked Sugar Plum Fairies so far, as I'm not so familiar with all these American companies. It seems like The Nutcracker is really more popular there as if it would be Russia; also there the character is actually replaced through Masha, so of course, it's a different characterization. My favorite Nutcracker is the one recorded from Dresden, but it was clear that it would be not included. There were so gorgeous designs here, I really love the one from Canada, too. In my opinion, the best tutu is still the one Barbie wears in her first movie (;
Thank you ladies for this installment❤💥💯🙌🙏! Of all the entries, my favorite Sugar Plum tutu is the design by the late Julia Trevelyan Oman for the Royal Ballet. Their current production was staged by Sir Peter Wright with her designs and costumes in 1984 and it has aged well, like fine wine. I give the Gold Medal and Grand Prix to her design for the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her Sugar Plum looks like a variation on an 18th century ball gown that would have been worn by a royal at Versailles. This tutu is foolproof: Everyone who dances this role at Covent Garden looks magnificent in it. So, the pressure is such that one can't mess up😁. The Royal dances the Ivanov grand pas de deux. IMVHO it's the only Nutcracker grand pdd where the choreography equals and matches Tchaikovsky's music. All they have to do is do what they do, do it well and believe, and they become the Sugar Plum Fairy.
I feel like the royal ballet is more christmasy and that’s the only reason why I think it’s better it just feels like decorating cookies and rolling the dough in sugar or like the stars shining on Christmas eve
The National Ballet of Canada one is just so dreamy. It really encapsulates the magic fairy whimsical fell. The Royal Ballet one is more queenly, I think. It relies more on the character as a queen than as a fairy.
as someone from toronto i didnt realize sugar plum fairies could look different i think our sugar plum rly is so classic in my eyes i got to see it one year and the national ballet of canada's nutcracker is truly special now that i know they differ so much btwn companies i might have to go see some other ones!
The darker fabric of the boning in the San Fran corsets reminded me of the ones used in cabaret (and pretty much any period movie with prostitutes ever), so every time you guys mentioned the little girls finding Sugar Plum aspirational, I couldn’t help laughing.
I’m biased towards royal ballet but omg australia’s had the perfect color for a sugar plum! If it was in the style and shimmer of rb’s with more of the color from australia, it’d be the peak blend of fairylike whimsy and mature queen energy!
I love Royal Ballet Nutcracker and I watch it every Christmas since my daughter started ballet but Sugarplum costume looks more mature, more like a queen not a fairy. For me NBOC takes the cake. Is just as a fairytale costume should look. Anyway, The nutcracker is such a magical ballet.
Canada is my winner for sure. It's so much more fairy like and fantasy land of sweets looking than royal ballet. And the wings... that's such a great costume choice I beleive more sugar plums should have.
I loved the Bolshoi Fairy! She was so... mature and responsible looking, and despite simpliness so captivating! BUt all of them are lovely to be honest
As a former child Clara, I will admit to a bias for that interpretation of the story, and the National Ballet of Canada would definitely have put stars in my eyes as a wee dancer.
So glad you immediately explained the different plotline of the Dutch National Ballet! Phiew... Indeed, the costume is Clara, but a little more mature. The first itteration of the Toer van Schaik design did not have as much of a horizontal tutu either, it was a bit more triangular.
So the Australian ballet has the same set and costumes as Birmingham Royal Ballet, which is my local company, and it is absolutely my favourite overall design for nutcracker costumes! The snow tutus have this perfect level of floatiness that looks just like freshly fallen snow! If you had compared the mouse/rat king costumes I think they probably would have won, their costumes for the rats have this very regal but old and tattered look that is just delicious.
Hands down Peter Wright's version for the Royal Ballet is my favourite Nutcracker of all time, although it's more to do with staging and narrative than costumes. When Drosselmeyer starts to summon the magic kingdom and the Christmas Tree starts grow and grow till it fills the stage never fails to bring tears to my eyes and I love that the Nutcracker is his beloved nephew and Drosselmeyer has none of the slightly sinister connotations he carries in some versions.
I am a big fan of the baroque style Nutcracker costumes like Royal Ballet,but the Baryshnikov production we watched every Christmas on PBS but this year I need to see some of these tutus in action!
it's kind of funny how i didn't like canada's at first glance, but it grew on me so well that by the end i was rooting for it to win. the final two are both so beautiful in motion, but yeah, canada *really* won me over
Yay I love the nutcracker season!!!!!! I’m actually going to see it on New Year’s Eve (I’m so excited 😆) Also did Jordan dye a bit of her hair? It’s so pretty :)
it’s such a hard choice to pick between canada & royal’s sugar plum fairy so i totally get it. canada’s is more fairy and royal’s is more sugary and they’re both perfect!
I would have picked Canada but that is because I like Nutcracker's that have more children. I just saw Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker and they have children in the party scene, as angels and then in their unique candy scene near the end. I just think as a ballet that is about the dream of a child there should be children.
I love the light green tutu in one of the scenes the NYC ballet company performs. The Giselle type tutu the ballerina wears first is also very nice (in the same ballet).
PNB has 2 different costumes for SugarPlum Fairy. one is a romantic tutu and is one is a platter. in the pas de deux, the sugarplum wears the platter tutu. in the revealing of the sugarplum with the angels. she wears the romantic tutu.
My choice is the PNW ballet. I think it best represents the sugar plum fairy, and I love its shape and color. I appreciate your tastes and choices, and I loved getting to see all the different interpretations.
I love that the Australian Ballet and Royal Ballet's SPF are from Peter Wright's production. In the context of the set design, the Aus costume just sings. Random thought: have you heard of Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker? It was created for the Australian ballet and put an entirely Australian spin on the story. It opens without music but joyful sounds of children playing on the street in the summer Christmas heat while an old lady struggles home with groceries. The party scene is in the old lady's house and is all her elderly friends. The lady collapses and the doctor is called. He sends her to bed and stays by her side through the night. She proceeds to dream about her lavish life as a famous Russian ballerina who fled to Australia after world war 1. The land of sweets is instead her and the company cruising around the world on tour; the grand pas is her and her soldier lover before he ships off. It's such a wonderful take on the way the Nutcracker exists in dancers' hearts. It makes me wonder which ballet score is each ballerina's chosen life soundtrack?
@oxoelfoxo not that i can remember; Murphy went to some lengths to explain his intentions and process and there was never a desire to replace traditional nutcracker stagings in the repertoire. Also, in Australia, we don't have the same nutcracker 'season' like in the US. Murphy also reinterpreted Swan Lake, in some ways inspired by the Charles-Diana-Camilla story. He's a well loved non conformist and driver of contemporary dance in Australia. He also founded Sydney Dance Company.
For me it's Royal Ballet all the way. There's no contest. It perfectly manages to portray at the same time a queen, a fairy and a sweet/candy. Also, I absolutely love those baroque-style sleeves! I don't think flowers suit Sugarplum at all. Both San Francisco and Australia feel like they could also work for Aurora and mainly due to the flowers and the pink in the costumes.
1. Royal Ballet 2. National Ballet of Canada 3. San Francisco Ballet 4. Australian Ballet 5. English National Ballet 6. Mariinsky Ballet 7. Boston Ballet 8. Dutch National Ballet 9. American Ballet Theatre 10. Pacific Northwest Ballet 11. New York City Ballet 12. Bolshoi Ballet
I agree with the ending. Both represent two different ideas. You can't choose one or the other. Royal ballet with classic traditional queen look. Canada, with its more whimsical, energetic, fairy look. One you expect to see for the sugar plum. The other you are pleasantly surprised to see. Both are number one in their respective categories.
Agreed! Thanks for watching 🫰🏻🫰🏻
To me, Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker is THE Nutcracker! I just love absolutely everything about it 🧚♀️🎄
Edit: Eden’s “cause it’s Christmas” was the cutest thing ever!!! I melt 🥹🥹
Little sister privilege 😅😅
I'm so happy nboc is getting recognition! This is my second and final year performing in the production as a unicorn, and both male and female children and courtiers! (the dancers in the red costumes) If you are in Canada, I would definitely recommend watching!
Congrats on being in the production! 🎉 NBS students are always extremely professional and a highlight of the show. I might see you on stage next Friday! 😊
I'm coming to see it in a week! If you're there I'll be cheering you on haha
Congrats on the performance
Wowww that’s incredible!! All the best to you and the company this nutcracker season ❤️❤️
In German, we only say "Sugar fairy", thus the completly purple costume got me by suprise!
Interesting how language shaped my expectations for a costume.
Originally sugar plums had nothing to do with plums. The term referred to something (nuts, almonds, cherries) covered in layers of sugar - like Jordan almonds or German Zuckermandeln. Tasting History with Max Miller did a whole clip about the etymology and even features a (completely bonkers) recipe.
@katsmith3369 I had no idea! Thank you for the research, how kind of you. 💕
I agree with your choices, but I’m intrigued by the PNB’s deep purple! (I’m a sucker for purple)
I feel Canada appeals more to the inner child
Baby J/E would be in awe ✨✨
Love that you said the royal ballet’s looks like cake because it’s so true! The second act set is literally the cake the children receive in the party scene 🎂😂
Definitely some hard decisions had to be made on this one! 🍬🩰✨
It’s that sheen 🎂✨ thanks for watching today! ❤️
National Ballet of Canada representation! Woohoo! I'm seeing their Nutcracker in a week.
Edit: yay they won! I can't wait to see it in person. The dancer in the clip you played from NBOC, Genevieve Penn Nabity, is beautiful. I've seen her live as Kitri and Myrtha, and they're such different roles, but shes amazing in both!
To this day, Marianela Nunez's Sugar plum variation in that costume encapsulates all of the magic, sparkle, and elegance of the Nutcracker and classical ballet, as overplayed as the variation may be -- so I have to go with Royal Ballet! However, the Canada and Australian national ballets are also stunningly designed -- they are all lovely in their own ways! Amazing video as always -- looking forward to the birthday party celebration! :)
I am so very excited for this one. When I would go to different nutcracker performances as a little girl, I always looked forward to the seeing what the Sugar Plum Fairy's costume would look like because every company's was different.
I personally prefer the Royal Ballet one because of the queenly vibes. It just feel more regal
I've seen the NBOC's Nutcracker many times (because I work there) and I must say it is a spectacular show, probably one of the best nutcrackers out there and the costumes are incredible. My personal favourite is the Snow Queen and the Snowflakes which I have had the chance to see up close a few times and those tutus are truly stunning.
I'd also like to add that the Sugar Plum Fairy tutu is a lot more sparkly under the stage lights than in the photos and video, that girl glitters with every movement.
My pick is the Nàtional Ballet of Canada for the win. I think both children and adults would see it as the best, even seeing them both in motion this one was definitely the pick.
I'm a sucker for costumes so thank you for bringing these gorgeous tutus for us to enjoy! I followed you exactly on your lovely choices. MOAR !!!
I found your channel this fall and have been in love! I always wanted to be a ballerina when I was little. I was mesmerized by as a little girl and used to walk on my tip toes everywhere I went. Unfortunately my parents couldn’t afford lessons so it never happened. But your channel makes my inner child so happy
royal ballet has always been my fav costume with the wig sparkles and everything is AMAZING
Such an iridescent, sparkly Saturday!
Thank you, Ladies 😊!
Hehe thank u and happy Nutcracker World Domination Season 🎄
@@balletreign Hohoho, you're very welcome! You, too!
For me San Francisco is giving fairy, royal ballet is giving sugar plum and queen, and national ballet of Canada is giving the full Sugar Plum Fairy Queen!
Great analysis 🤌🏻✨
I love these videos just because I love looking at tutus. They're all so pretttttyyyyyy. But I'd love a Sugar Plum Attendant edition! Give me allllll the sparkly sugar plum goodness.
Royal Ballet all the way. The first time I saw the pas de deux it was what I considered to be the absolute pinnacle of ballet in like, 6 minutes. I wish that I could remember who the stars were in the first one I watched because I can't find it anywhere, and it was my favorite one. All of the dancers they cast in the role are beautiful, but that first one captivated me like none other.
I have to be honest I really didn’t like the national ballet of Canada costume from the picture, but as soon as I saw it in the video I loved it. The colours blended so perfectly and they looked so much softer in the stage lights.
Ladies, in the Balanchine nutcracker the sugar plum fairy wears a dress at the beginning of act 2 when she does her solo variation. She wears a completely different tutu for the pas de deluxe and coda. Originally this tutu was a dusty mauve I believe it is currently light green
yeah I am definitely more of a fan of the pas de deux tutu, it's absolutely *gorgeous*.
I have only seen the Swedish version of the nutcracker, choreographed by Pär Isberg. It is based on a Swedish children’s book and contains some of our old traditions, but with the same wonderful music. It doesn’t have a sugarplum, instead it’s the maid who dances her solo. I really love this version, you should totally watch it😊
I really love the purple sugar plum custom 🩰💜
nboc is the winner to me.... the layering and the details takes the cake
The details are immaculate ✨
I LOVE the Showdown series, I can't wait to watch it💓💓
Royal Ballet reminds me of Marzipan desserts!
I wish more sugar plum fairies were a dusty light purple instead of just pink or white...
Cause we already get the pink with the flowers and sweets and so many other ballets, especially with Sleeping Beauty. She is THE fairy of sugar plums... it would make sense if it was more sugary purple instead of pink or white.
I think you are right. Separate it from the Snowflakes and the Flowers.
As a San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker lifer (been going since 1994 at 9 years old, since I was 3 at a local company), I am *thrilled* it made it to the top 3. And I just have to point out that its also a call back to Act One. The tutu was designed to look like the dancing dolls tutu (ours weighs 18 pounds?! I have no idea how they moveso gracefully in that costume 🤯) from the party scene. I love how Helgi (former artistic director) tied so much imagery from Act One throughout his production.
Yall had one job! Lol your editor is hilarious. I love the Royal Ballet the most.
I have to say that I love the tutu ,with these little wings🤩, of Canada national Ballet but the Royal Ballet tutu has something so magical and unique and that’s why I would say that I like the Royal Ballet one a bit more. But it is very hard to choose.
Thanks for the shout out to the National Ballet of Canada’s spectacular Nutcracker. I see this version every year and the richness of Santo Loquasto’s sets and costume never ceases to amaze me. If you loved the SPF tutu, please check out the Snow Queen costume on the NBoC feeds! ✨Stunning! ✨
Canada understands Christmas magic ✨thanks for watching!
the use of purples in the national ballet of canada's costume is divine to me. but at the end of the day the australian ballet's costume has my heart, especially as the one i'd want to wear the most and the one that'd enchant me the most as a child. royal is a very close second though! it looks much prettier in action to me than it does in the still you guys showed.
I think just for sheer gorgeousness, Canada's Sugar Plum has it. Incidentally, have just realised that the Australian Ballet Nutcracker is the same as Birmingham Royal Ballet's (I'm biased but it's my absolute favourite version ever). Thank you! xxx
Royal ballet for sure!
I'm going to see the Nutcracker next weekend! It's a bucket list experience for me, I'm so excited!
I THINK THE SAME, honestly the final decision left me in a total crossroads xD. Of all the costumes, my favorite apart from the three winners, YES, ALL OF THEM ARE WINNERS BECAUSE XDD for me, were the ones from the Bolshoi Ballet, the Australian Ballet and the ABT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS, THEY DESERVE IT. I'm very excited about your channel's birthday celebration, really having found you is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. MERRY CHRISTMAS 🌲🌟🍭😍
PS: Right now apart from blaming Barbie and the Nutcracker, I blame the moment when I saw the best sugar plum fairy when I was a child, Nina Kaptsova from the Bolshoi where my standards were very simplistic :'p
omg i was binge watching your videos the other day and i was literally gonna comment that yall should do a sugarplum costume showdown bc every company’s costume is so different HAHAHAHA so glad you guys did this 🫶
Lolll we must be in the christmas spirit 🎄✨thanks for watching
Yess, I love the costume reviews
Personal pick~
Adult Me: The ABT, cuz I love the unique concept of the powdered sugar.
Child Me: Australia! Cuz it’s so close to the Barbie Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum costume! (yes, the animation was janky but that was my first exposure to ballet. Also am a full time animator 👋)
30:31 i’ve been watching the channel from the start and didn’t realize you are sisters, lol i always thought you were just close friends!
(also royal ballet is my fav - i know some people don’t like it, but i love the sparkly wig)
To be honest, I have known and seen only a few of these ranked Sugar Plum Fairies so far, as I'm not so familiar with all these American companies. It seems like The Nutcracker is really more popular there as if it would be Russia; also there the character is actually replaced through Masha, so of course, it's a different characterization. My favorite Nutcracker is the one recorded from Dresden, but it was clear that it would be not included. There were so gorgeous designs here, I really love the one from Canada, too. In my opinion, the best tutu is still the one Barbie wears in her first movie (;
Thank you ladies for this installment❤💥💯🙌🙏! Of all the entries, my favorite Sugar Plum tutu is the design by the late Julia Trevelyan Oman for the Royal Ballet. Their current production was staged by Sir Peter Wright with her designs and costumes in 1984 and it has aged well, like fine wine. I give the Gold Medal and Grand Prix to her design for the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her Sugar Plum looks like a variation on an 18th century ball gown that would have been worn by a royal at Versailles. This tutu is foolproof: Everyone who dances this role at Covent Garden looks magnificent in it. So, the pressure is such that one can't mess up😁. The Royal dances the Ivanov grand pas de deux. IMVHO it's the only Nutcracker grand pdd where the choreography equals and matches Tchaikovsky's music. All they have to do is do what they do, do it well and believe, and they become the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Happy nutcracker season 🎄
I feel like the royal ballet is more christmasy and that’s the only reason why I think it’s better it just feels like decorating cookies and rolling the dough in sugar or like the stars shining on Christmas eve
The National Ballet of Canada one is just so dreamy. It really encapsulates the magic fairy whimsical fell. The Royal Ballet one is more queenly, I think. It relies more on the character as a queen than as a fairy.
Colorado Ballet's Sugarplum is teal, purple, and gold. I love how regal and different is compared to other Sugarplums.
National Ballet of Canada is never on anyone's radar, but they're always doing fantastic work! Their Nutcracker is my childhood!
How lovely a tie
Yesssss I can’t wait!
as someone from toronto i didnt realize sugar plum fairies could look different i think our sugar plum rly is so classic in my eyes i got to see it one year and the national ballet of canada's nutcracker is truly special
now that i know they differ so much btwn companies i might have to go see some other ones!
The Royal Ballet for the win! It was my introduction into The Nutcracker!
Such a good video, as usual ✨✨✨
Thank uuuu happy nutcracker season 🎄
The darker fabric of the boning in the San Fran corsets reminded me of the ones used in cabaret (and pretty much any period movie with prostitutes ever), so every time you guys mentioned the little girls finding Sugar Plum aspirational, I couldn’t help laughing.
I’m biased towards royal ballet but omg australia’s had the perfect color for a sugar plum! If it was in the style and shimmer of rb’s with more of the color from australia, it’d be the peak blend of fairylike whimsy and mature queen energy!
Royal Ballet wins for me, but National Ballet of Canada is stunning in its own right! 🩰🎀🧚🏼♀️
Can’t wait
I love Royal Ballet Nutcracker and I watch it every Christmas since my daughter started ballet but Sugarplum costume looks more mature, more like a queen not a fairy. For me NBOC takes the cake. Is just as a fairytale costume should look. Anyway, The nutcracker is such a magical ballet.
Canada is my winner for sure. It's so much more fairy like and fantasy land of sweets looking than royal ballet. And the wings... that's such a great costume choice I beleive more sugar plums should have.
I loved the Bolshoi Fairy! She was so... mature and responsible looking, and despite simpliness so captivating! BUt all of them are lovely to be honest
As a former child Clara, I will admit to a bias for that interpretation of the story, and the National Ballet of Canada would definitely have put stars in my eyes as a wee dancer.
They put the magic in sugarplum fairy ✨✨
Hello, thank you girls I now got the ballet bug, I plan to see my first ballet this year.
So glad you immediately explained the different plotline of the Dutch National Ballet! Phiew... Indeed, the costume is Clara, but a little more mature. The first itteration of the Toer van Schaik design did not have as much of a horizontal tutu either, it was a bit more triangular.
National ballet of Canada for winner pick 31:42
Canada. Maple Leaf Forever!
🍁❤️
Oooo I love this series 😁
So the Australian ballet has the same set and costumes as Birmingham Royal Ballet, which is my local company, and it is absolutely my favourite overall design for nutcracker costumes! The snow tutus have this perfect level of floatiness that looks just like freshly fallen snow!
If you had compared the mouse/rat king costumes I think they probably would have won, their costumes for the rats have this very regal but old and tattered look that is just delicious.
Love these videos! Please make more costume showdowns!
Hands down Peter Wright's version for the Royal Ballet is my favourite Nutcracker of all time, although it's more to do with staging and narrative than costumes. When Drosselmeyer starts to summon the magic kingdom and the Christmas Tree starts grow and grow till it fills the stage never fails to bring tears to my eyes and I love that the Nutcracker is his beloved nephew and Drosselmeyer has none of the slightly sinister connotations he carries in some versions.
Same, royal ballet does such a wonderful job with characterization that i haven’t seen any productions come close to portraying!
The Nutcracker is my favorite ballet ever!!! My favorite production will always be The Royal Ballet's 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
Canada!! The wings!!
aaaaaaaah i was at my nutcracker performance when this dropped!
I am a big fan of the baroque style Nutcracker costumes like Royal Ballet,but the Baryshnikov production we watched every Christmas on PBS but this year I need to see some of these tutus in action!
I look forward to your Saturday videos every week ❤🎀🩰
Definitely the San Francisco or Canada… but I can’t choose which! Ok, Canada, hands down.
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Royal Ballet ... LOVE it😍
You really couldn’t go wrong with any of these. But the correct answer is the national ballet of Canada. And the reason is simply because. 😀😀😀
Bro the Royal ballet one I thought it was a painting at first it's so unique
FR 🤩🤩
it's kind of funny how i didn't like canada's at first glance, but it grew on me so well that by the end i was rooting for it to win. the final two are both so beautiful in motion, but yeah, canada *really* won me over
I do indeed have my hot tea bc it is very chilly in England
As a Nutcracker nut, you 2 are the best. Thank you.
To me, Canada could also work equally as well in "Sleeping Beauty" where as the Royal could only be Sugarplum... so I'd inch it to Royal
Loved all the tutus, but the National Ballet of Canada won it for me!
Yay I love the nutcracker season!!!!!! I’m actually going to see it on New Year’s Eve (I’m so excited 😆)
Also did Jordan dye a bit of her hair? It’s so pretty :)
it’s such a hard choice to pick between canada & royal’s sugar plum fairy so i totally get it. canada’s is more fairy and royal’s is more sugary and they’re both perfect!
I would have picked Canada but that is because I like Nutcracker's that have more children. I just saw Ballet Arizona's Nutcracker and they have children in the party scene, as angels and then in their unique candy scene near the end. I just think as a ballet that is about the dream of a child there should be children.
I love the light green tutu in one of the scenes the NYC ballet company performs. The Giselle type tutu the ballerina wears first is also very nice (in the same ballet).
PNB has 2 different costumes for SugarPlum Fairy. one is a romantic tutu and is one is a platter. in the pas de deux, the sugarplum wears the platter tutu. in the revealing of the sugarplum with the angels. she wears the romantic tutu.
I live in Brisbane Australia AEST will this be on u tube
The fairy wings are a trump card
the English national ballet’s costume is actually different this year it’s like a velvet-y light purple!! :)
My choice is the PNW ballet. I think it best represents the sugar plum fairy, and I love its shape and color. I appreciate your tastes and choices, and I loved getting to see all the different interpretations.
I love all of them 😭
Royal Ballet
Houston Ballet's sugar plum tutu is another really good one
I love that the Australian Ballet and Royal Ballet's SPF are from Peter Wright's production. In the context of the set design, the Aus costume just sings.
Random thought: have you heard of Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker? It was created for the Australian ballet and put an entirely Australian spin on the story. It opens without music but joyful sounds of children playing on the street in the summer Christmas heat while an old lady struggles home with groceries. The party scene is in the old lady's house and is all her elderly friends. The lady collapses and the doctor is called. He sends her to bed and stays by her side through the night. She proceeds to dream about her lavish life as a famous Russian ballerina who fled to Australia after world war 1. The land of sweets is instead her and the company cruising around the world on tour; the grand pas is her and her soldier lover before he ships off. It's such a wonderful take on the way the Nutcracker exists in dancers' hearts. It makes me wonder which ballet score is each ballerina's chosen life soundtrack?
sounds intriguing. was there any pushback from traditionalists?
@oxoelfoxo not that i can remember; Murphy went to some lengths to explain his intentions and process and there was never a desire to replace traditional nutcracker stagings in the repertoire. Also, in Australia, we don't have the same nutcracker 'season' like in the US.
Murphy also reinterpreted Swan Lake, in some ways inspired by the Charles-Diana-Camilla story. He's a well loved non conformist and driver of contemporary dance in Australia. He also founded Sydney Dance Company.
❤❤❤ Canada ❤❤❤
For me it's Royal Ballet all the way. There's no contest. It perfectly manages to portray at the same time a queen, a fairy and a sweet/candy. Also, I absolutely love those baroque-style sleeves! I don't think flowers suit Sugarplum at all. Both San Francisco and Australia feel like they could also work for Aurora and mainly due to the flowers and the pink in the costumes.
Thanks for sharing your favorite! ✨
Canada Battle for my vote 100%. The one on the left? Whichever one that was lol.
EDIT: Yes national ballet of Canada
This was easy. The fairy with wings of course! A fairy has wings…
1. Royal Ballet
2. National Ballet of Canada
3. San Francisco Ballet
4. Australian Ballet
5. English National Ballet
6. Mariinsky Ballet
7. Boston Ballet
8. Dutch National Ballet
9. American Ballet Theatre
10. Pacific Northwest Ballet
11. New York City Ballet
12. Bolshoi Ballet