Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is a world-famous ballet that’s popular at Christmas. Goh Ballet brings it to Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre in December.

The 2025 performances run from Thursday, December 18th, to Sunday, December 21st, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. This year’s production is once again presented by Goh Ballet, sponsored by RBC, and features over 200 performers. There is a live orchestra from the Vancouver Opera, and dazzling stage sets. See the Goh Nutcracker website for tickets and full details about the ballet.

Note: Tickets sell fast, so book your spot before it’s too late! We saw the show a couple of years ago and loved it! We bet you will too!

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Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Vancouver

Goh Ballet is a prestigious dance company that offers classes for children and adults of all ages. There are auditions, educational classes and various levels of dance programs to progress through.

Each year, Goh Ballet brings the famous Nutcracker production to Vancouver. The shows are exceptional and very popular. Chan Hon Goh, an international award-winning ballerina, directs the company. Ms. Goh is also the executive producer of the Goh Ballet Nutcracker production.

Choreographed by Anna-Marie Holmes, the Christmas-themed show features over 200 dancers, gymnasts, and actors who perform at a very high level. Another aspect of the production that makes it extra special is the live music performed by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.

In addition to dancers from Goh Ballet, there are typically dancers from other companies such as the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the National Ballet of China, and the Royal Danish Ballet. It’s an impressive production with world-class artists.

During last year’s performances, the role of the Cavalier (one of the principal characters) was played by Port Moody native Benjamin Freemantle. Freemantle auditioned and performed in the first-ever Goh Nutcracker when he was just 14. Now based in New York, the accomplished dancer returned home for his first performance here since that debut 15 years ago.

Visit the GohNutcracker.com website for tickets and full details.

B Freemantle + L Woodruff — Benjamin Freemantle & Lyrica Woodruff

Location and Dates

Goh Ballet has schools in both Vancouver and Toronto. Its Vancouver location is in a beautiful heritage building once occupied by the Royal Bank at 2345 Main Street. The Nutcracker production, however, takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Located at 630 Hamilton Street in downtown Vancouver, the venue is a stunning theatre that seats over 2,750 guests.

The Nutcracker runs from December 18th to 21st, 2025, with five performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver).

Thursday, December 18th – 7:30 pm
Friday, December 19th – 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 20th – 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 21 – 2:00 pm

Each show brings Tchaikovsky’s classic score to life through choreography, spectacular costumes, dancers, gymnasts, and actors.

Admission Prices in 2025

Tickets to Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker are usually available online. Prices for tickets in the 2025 season range from about $40 to $230 (plus taxes and fees). The cost depends on seat location and performance date. Midweek performances on Thursday and Friday are slightly lower priced than the weekend shows.

Seats in the back corners of the theatre are typically the cheapest (but they still have pretty good views). Seats closer to the stage cost more.

The most expensive tickets are for VIP seats, which offer the best views of the show, a goodie bag, an autographed card, and exclusive access to activities before and after the show. People with VIP tickets can attend a champagne reception, meet the performers and get a backstage tour of the production.

See the Goh Nutcracker website for tickets to shows in Vancouver.

About The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is a classic ballet performed around the world during the holiday season. The first performance was in 1892. Choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the original score was composed by Tchaikovsky and was based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, a story by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann.

The plot of the show follows Clara on a magical adventure featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy and the heroic Nutcracker. The Nutcracker takes on an evil Mouse King and his large army of mice. The classic story is dark but also heart-warming. It’s a family-friendly show suitable for all ages.

About Goh Ballet

Goh Ballet is one of the most prestigious ballet academies in Vancouver. The school is located at 2345 Main Street. Goh Ballet was founded in 1978 by Choo Chiat Goh and his wife Lin Yee Goh, who immigrated to Canada from China, where they were members of the National Ballet of China.

Today, the academy is run by their daughter, Chan Hon Goh, an award-winning ballet dancer and recipient of the Order of Canada.

Goh Ballet offers a wide range of classes for all ages. There are children’s programs for those as young as seven, as well as courses for adults and seniors. There is also the Goh Ballet Youth Company, which is one of the most notable such programs in the country.

Visit the GohNutcracker.com website for tickets and full details.

Practice Video

Watch the video below for an idea of what type of dance to expect at Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker production. The video includes footage of students practicing at the academy. They were all rehearsing and getting ready to perform The Nutcracker in 2023.