We’ve piquéd through the best ballet-inspired holiday films to create a list that will delight dancers, fans, and movie enthusiasts alike. So, grab your favorite cozy blanket, pour a cup of cocoa, and let the holiday magic begin!
The Nutcrackers (2024)
Looking to freshen up your festive collection? This 2024 release will soon become a holiday favorite. Ben Stiller stars as a reluctant workaholic uncle who steps in to care for his four ballet-loving orphaned nephews after a family tragedy. In a search to find a fitting foster home for the rambunctious bunch, the young boys put their dance training to work in a unique rendition of The Nutcracker that brings the family together.
The Polar Express (2004)
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, there’s no better time to revisit this wintery staple. Whether watching for the first or twentieth time, notice how this animated film uses dance to enhance the iconic “Hot Chocolate” scene. The waiters flip about with a variety of impressive acrobatic skills, back handspring-ing through the train corridor and dropping into the splits, but the choreography draws on a wide range of styles, primarily a 1920’s-era tap vocabulary. Midway through, the waiters pull out a double tour en l’air while balancing on the arm of the seat, landing just in time to whip out the iconic Charleston skating move on top of the tables.
Bonus: do you hear the additional syncopated rhythms overlaid on the music? This is the audio track of tap dance choreography to mimic the movement of the animated figures!
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
Dive into the alternative fantasy world of this captivating twist on the ballet classic. Follow Clara through a mystical journey as she discovers a world divided into four realms. With the help of a young Nutcracker soldier named Philip, she must retrieve a key to restore harmony. Keep an eye out for the scene where Clara is given a performance that tells the story of the Four Realms; you’ll see legendary ballerina Misty Copeland dance the lead. Notice how her movements help physicalize the music and convey the story. Impersonating the queen, her bourrées give her character a delicate, graceful, and regal quality. As the music swells, Copland chaînés and pirouettes around the stage to communicate the curiosity of her adventure. With the assistance of a new partner in every realm she visits, the pas de deux choreography is rich with complex lifts and phrases that take up space, visualizing how she explores and enjoys each realm differently.
White Christmas (1954)
In need of a nostalgic throwback? Enjoy the timeless holiday extravaganza White Christmas featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Get excited for the iconic dance break “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” with Phil and Judy (Kaye and Vera-Ellen). While watching, note Judy’s ballet port de bras and her dainty arabesques. The sequence on the dock with her dreamy fan kicks and sweepy hinges, while Phil leaps around her overhead, is undoubtedly a standout section in dance history. This piece is chock-full of material, merging traditional ballroom, social dance, jazz, ballet, and Precision Dance (most notably seen performed by the Rockettes), and is a treasure trove for any dance enthusiast.
Finally, it wouldn’t be the holidays without attempting to justify the festive categorization of year-round classics. For fans of Mean Girls and Deadpool & Wolverine, ’tis the season to rewatch clips of “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Bye Bye Bye.”
Honorable mentions include the High School dance scene from It’s A Wonderful Life, “Do A Little Good” from Spirited featuring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, and “Whoomp! (There It Is)” from Elf. And for a boatload of family fun, you’re never too old to bust a move to “Linus and Lucy.”
We hope you experience the joy of dance with these Christmas classics while staying warm this season.
Craving a night out? Support live theater; don’t miss your local dance organizations’ classic production of The Nutcracker and other holiday favorites in a city near you.
Happy holidays from En Face Magazine!
