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Vancouver’s Goh Ballet Nutcracker Ballet at Christmas 2024

Goh 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 performances in 2024 run from December 19th to the 22nd. They are terrific shows and a wonderful Vancouver Christmas tradition! For tickets and full details about the ballet, see the Goh Nutcracker website.

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!

 


Click on any of the following links to skip to a specific section:

Location and Dates | Admission | About The Nutcracker | About Goh Ballet | Practice Video | Other Information


 

Goh Nutcracker Ballet

 

Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Vancouver

Goh Ballet is a prestigious dance company that offers classes for children of all ages as well as adults. 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. The company is directed by Chan Hon Goh, an international award-winning ballerina. 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 like the Pacific Northwest Ballet, National Ballet of China and Royal Danish Ballet. It’s an impressive production with world-class artists!

In 2024 the role of the Cavalier (one of the principal characters) is 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 has returned home for his first performance here since that debut fifteen years ago.

 


For tickets and full details, visit the GohNutcracker.com website.


 

Goh Nutcracker Mouse King Battles
Mouse King Battles (Photo by David Cooper)

 

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 shows run daily from December 19th to 22nd in 2024. On the Thursday and Friday, the performances begin at 7:30 pm. There are two shows on the Saturday, with one starting at 2:00 pm and the other at 7:30 pm. The final performance of the season is on the Sunday at 2:00 pm.

 

Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy and Prince
Sugar Plum Fairy and Prince (Photo by David Cooper)

 

Admission

Tickets to Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker are usually available online. Admission costs vary depending on where in the theatre you want to sit and which type of ticket you buy.

Prices range from about $40 to $210 (plus taxes and online fees). Regular 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. Folks with VIP tickets can attend a champagne reception, meet the performers and get a backstage tour of the production.

 


For tickets to shows in Vancouver, see the Goh Nutcracker website.


 

Goh Ballet Dancers
Goh Ballet Dancers in 2024

 

About The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is a classic play shown during the holiday season all around the world. The first performance was in 1892. Choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the original score was produced by Tchaikovsky and based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King 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.

 

Goh Ballet in Vancouver
Goh Ballet in Vancouver

 

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 who is 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 classes for adults and seniors. There is also the Goh Ballet Youth Company which is one of the most notable such programs in the country.

 


For tickets and full details, visit the GohNutcracker.com website.


 

Practice Video

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

 

 

Other Information

To learn more about The Nutcracker and the Vancouver company behind its local performances, see the Goh Ballet website.

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