3 of 3
performances sold out in 2025
Standing ovation
at every 2025 performance
Since 2008
a Toronto holiday tradition
Anabel Katsnelson
Soloist, Miami City Ballet
Jarod Curley
Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Two guest stars in the lead roles
This December, Jarod Curley of American Ballet Theatre and Anabel Katsnelson of Miami City Ballet dance the leading roles. Both are on stage at all three performances.
Photo: Karolina Kuras
Jarod grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and trained at the Frederick School of Classical Ballet, CityDance Conservatory and Next Generation Ballet. He won top honours at Youth America Grand Prix and reached the final of the 2015 Prix de Lausanne. He joined ABT's Studio Company in 2016, the corps de ballet in 2019, became a soloist in 2024 and a principal dancer in 2026.
Photo: Paul DuBois / The Thief of Time
Anabel is from New City, New York. She trained at Houston Ballet Academy and spent eight years at American Ballet Theatre, dancing featured roles in La Bayadère, Don Quixote and Swan Lake and working with Alexei Ratmansky, Twyla Tharp and Christopher Wheeldon. She joined Miami City Ballet as a soloist in 2025, where she has danced the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.
A Toronto tradition since 2008
TIBT's Nutcracker opened in December 2008, and its first performances sold out. Guest artists from American Ballet Theatre led our 2023 and 2025 seasons; this year Jarod Curley continues that line.
Our guest artists have come from
Bolshoi Ballet
Mariinsky Theatre
San Francisco Ballet
American Ballet Theatre
National Ballet of Canada
Our Nutcracker
TIBT's Nutcracker is choreographed by our Artistic Director, Tatiana Stepanova, a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Her version tells the story as Clara's dream of growing up. On Christmas Eve her uncle gives her a wooden Nutcracker, and after midnight his spell turns the toy into a prince. Clara, no longer a little girl, follows him through a winter forest to the Castle of Sweets, and the night becomes a first love story, tender enough that she wakes up wondering whether any of it was real.
- The battle with the Mouse King, where the Nutcracker fights to protect Clara.
- The Land of Sweets, where every dance comes from a different corner of the world.
- Tchaikovsky's score, from the snow scene to the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers.
- Beside the guest stars, students of the Stepanova Ballet Academy and young dancers from across the GTA, chosen at our September auditions.
Good to know
- Who it is for: a holiday show for the whole family and anyone who loves classical ballet.
- Running time: about 1 hour 30 minutes, with one intermission.
- Getting there: St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Nearest subway: King.
- Gift tickets: a Nutcracker ticket is a Christmas gift that arrives the weekend before Christmas.
- Groups of 10 or more: special rates for school groups, dance studios and organizations.
THE COMPANY
Tatiana Stepanova — Artistic Director
Tatiana Stepanova graduated from Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow and performed as a Prima Ballerina for the Odessa State Ballet Company before dedicating herself to developing the next generation of professional dancers. She founded Toronto International Ballet Theatre in 2008 and has led the company through seventeen consecutive seasons.
TIBT pairs emerging local and international talents with internationally acclaimed guest artists, original choreography and landmark Toronto venues. It is the resident ballet company of Stepanova Ballet Academy.
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