Photo © Johann Persson
The Nutcracker has become one of the most revered ballets of all time. Tchaikovsky’s delightful score woven around ETA Hoffman’s magical fairytale is a firm family favourite and especially synonymous with Christmas time – filled, as it is, with glistening snowflakes and enchanted toys.
The Royal Ballet’s exquisite production of the Nutcracker is a visual feast, featuring a magically growing Christmas tree and spectacular costume design. This vision of the Nutcracker, directed and choreographed by Peter Wright, is now in its 25th year.
The 2010 production was extra special, as Miyako Yoshida danced the Sugar Plum Fairy, her last role before retiring.
Miyako Yoshida joined the Royal Ballet in 1995. Her Covent Garden debut was the part of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. In an illustrious career, she danced the titular lead in Ondine as well as creating the role of the Blue Girl in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Royal Ballet.
Yoshida was appointed a Principle Guest Artist with the Royal Ballet in 2006. In the same year, she won Best Female Dancer at the National Dance Awards, and in 2007, she was awarded an OBE for her services to dance.