The Hard Nut

Russia's renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy is in Athens together with top soloists from the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra to present Tchaikovsky's world-renowned Christmas ballet, "The Nutcracker." Performances take place from December 23 to 29 at the Galatsi Olympic Hall. The ballet is based on E.T.A Hoffmann's tale "The Nutcracker and The Mouse King," first published in 1816.

Italian choreographer and artistic director Renato Zanella directs the Greek National Opera Ballet in a children's version of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," with fairy-tale sets by Christof Cremer from the Vienna State Opera. Shows take place weekdays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 6.30 p.m. on February 3, 8, 10 and 11, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC).

Italian choreographer and artistic director Renato Zanella directs the Greek National Opera Ballet in a children's version of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," with fairy-tale sets by Christof Cremer from the Vienna State Opera. Shows take place weekdays at 11 a.m., Saturdays at 6.30 p.m.

Members of the Pilobolus dance theater perform 'Shadowland' for the media ahead of the show's premiere at the Athens Concert Hall on Wednesday night. The American company is in the Greek capital through Sunday with a total of eight performances that combine dance and acrobatics in a tale recounting a young girl's nightmares.

Already boasting 26 sold-out performances of repertoire classics in the Greek capital, the Grigorovich Ballet Theater of Russia is returning with E.T.A.