New Nutcracker production premiers at the Croatian National Theater in Zagreb

The Nutcracker ballet, a holiday classic, premiered in a new production Friday evening at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

The staging follows the choreography of the late ballet legend Rudolph Nureyev, though it had to be adapted for the theatre’s relatively small stage.

“We had to create a new production because this stage isn’t as large as those at the Paris Opera, Vienna, or Milan. This ballet was traditionally performed only by major companies, but the idea was to develop a version suited for a stage like ours,” said Massimiliano Volpini, ballet director of the Croatian National Theatre.

“This is a demanding version. The choreography uses movement vocabulary that’s unusual for us — different leg crossings and body positions,” added production director Aleth Francilion.

Iva Vitić Gameiro, who plays Clara, said the choreography pushes dancers to their limits. “The way Nureyev conceived this ballet is extremely difficult. The steps are incredibly demanding. Before, we had maybe one or two steps per note — now we have double that.”

Guilherme Gameiro Alves, who plays the Prince and Drosselmeyer, said the challenge is helping the cast grow. “For us, it’s the next level — something new and more difficult than before. As a dancer, it’s very interesting because I’m becoming a better performer.”

Tickets for the holiday run are already sold out, but the theatre will offer a free outdoor screening of the production on a large screen on December 23.