SF Ballet – The Nutcracker

There are few things as magical as seeing a live ballet performance. As my wife and I learned earlier this year when we attended San Francisco Ballet“Romeo and Juliet”; that there is something unique and timeless about the ambience that emanates from such beautiful performances. We were anxious and ecstatic about creating all new memories and experiences this season as we made our way to opening night of “The Nutcracker.”

Our evening started when we first stepped foot into the War Memorial Opera House. The atmosphere and aura of the building itself is visually stunning, as immediately we were seemingly whisked away into another time in history. The french renaissance styling truly adds so much to the experience, and helped in building our anticipation of the nights performance.

Soon we entered the performance hall and were kindly ushered to our seats. The staff at the Opera House I must add, were very friendly and extremely courteous; treating each patron with impeccable care and excellence. With such attention to detail in the service provided, we felt the night was that much more exceptional due to it.

As the performance was set to begin, I gazed over the audience of the Opera House – to no surprise it seemed to be a full house, however I was surprised to see who the audience was made up of! Young, old, couples, families, and nearly every demographic you could think of were in attendance. From those dressed to the nines, to those in jeans and polos – there seemed to be people of all shapes and sizes attending the performance; I soon found out why.

What proceeded before our eyes that night was as enchanting of an experience as I can remember. Bombastic sets that seemingly took you to other worlds and places. Ever changing, and always spectacular, I was speechless seeing how many different places one stage could take me to. Adding to the ever altering imagery were clever and imaginative costume designs, that appeared to come “straight out of a dream.” Exquisitely detailed, and well thought out – each article of clothing seemed to tell a story of it’s own upon first glance.

Amazingly enough, all of this was merely a frame to hold the true portrait of the night – the dancing. With a company of dancers as varied as the audience; the dancers truly were extraordinary as they graced the Opera House stage. With each footstep moving the performance forward, and each dancer bringing a dream to life, there was nothing left to be desired. As we watched the performance unfold, we were taken in by the timeless musical score, and mesmerized by the exceptional dancing performances that accompanied it.

Before we knew it, two hours had passed – and a very magical night had come to a close. As we had our picture taken on the front steps of the War Memorial Opera House – I thought to myself that this is something every family, couple, and friend needs to experience. With the holiday season upon us, I recommend you add “The Nutcracker” to your holiday tradition. With truly an experience that must be “experienced” first hand – your viewing of the San Francisco Ballet “The Nutcracker” will leave you with not only a wondrous experience, but memories to last a lifetime.