This is what dreams are made of— toy soldiers battling mice, dancing snowflakes, a land of sweets, and a Pas De Deux with a sugar plum fairy. The tradition of The Nutcracker Ballet meets Stamford, Connecticut’s gorgeous Palace Theatre. Under the direction of Brett Raphael, the Connecticut Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker adds another beautifully executed iteration in observance of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s timeless tale. This production brings to life the enchantment of Christmas, the joy of the theater, and the beauty of ballet.

Even the season of perpetual hope is no match for war torn families, as we see in New England Ballet Theatre’s poignant presentation of The Fantastic Toyshop at the Theater of Performing Arts in Hartford. Director and choreographer Rachael Gnatowski skillfully unravels the dichotomy between the wonders of a magical toyshop and the somber reality of war-torn families during the Christmas season.

Hope is a waking dream, but every light casts a shadow. The New England ballet Theatre’s production of The Red Shoes at the Aetna Theatre at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art narrates a tale of ambition and obsession, as a ballerina grapples with the shadows that follow her relentless pursuit to replace the fallen Étoile, all while being consumed by her irresistible craving for a sinister pair of blood-red ballet shoes. Gnatowski's vision astoundingly captures the tragic essence of desire and sacrifice, making The Red Shoes a remarkable success that delves into the depths of the human psyche and artistic devotion.