"The Nutcracker absolutely was our staple every year. We even took it out to California in the summertime, and danced it at the Greek Theatre with great success! Why not? Christmas in summer."

When Maria's husband George Balachine decided to revive The Nutcracker in 1954, Maria shined in the ballet's signature role. She was so captivating as the Sugar Plum Fairy that one critic raved how she "is herself a creature of magic, dancing the seemingly impossible with effortless beauty of movement, electrifying us with her brilliance, enchanting us with her radiance of being. Does she have any equals anywhere, inside or outside of fairyland? While watching her in The Nutcracker, one is tempted to doubt it."

artsmeme |

A video of one of NYC Ballet's beautifully realized renditions of the 1954 revival Maria helped popularize.

Warner Home Video |