NYC Ballet Costume Designer Breaks Down ‘The Nutcracker’ Costumes | InStyle

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the iconic costumes from George Balanchine's 'The Nutcracker' as Marc Happel, Director of Costumes at New York City Ballet, breaks down the design process for the beloved holiday production. Marc discusses the intricate details and creative challenges behind costumes like The Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Marie's party dress, the Columbine Doll, the Angels, Dewdrop, Hot Chocolate and more.
Marc fits principal dancer Mira Nadon into the stunning pink Sugar Plum Fairy costume, revealing the delicate craftsmanship and thought that goes into each piece. He also highlights the importance of the beautiful headpieces, crowns, and tiaras that add a touch of regal elegance to the performance.
Marc shares the challenges of maintaining these exquisite ballet costumes throughout the performance run, including the tricky task of keeping them clean and in perfect condition. From fit to fabric, learn how these magical costumes come to life and play a vital role in telling the story of 'The Nutcracker'.
Subscribe to InStyle on KZbin:
www.youtube.com...
CONNECT
Website: www.instyle.com/
Facebook: / instyle
Instagram: / instylemagazine
TikTok: / instyle
InStyle is the leading fashion, hair, makeup, and celebrity news site. See celebrity and runway photos, how-tos, and learn about the latest trends.
Ballet Costume Designer Breaks Down ‘The Nutcracker’ Costumes | InStyle
/ @instyle

[@alexandrafalbo4062]

Please bring him back, this was a fascinating tour.

[@thebonniewong]

I want him to talk about alllllll the costumes he does for alllll and any show! He is made to be a magnificent costume designer.

[@melissag5505]

The nycb channel has several videos talking about it's costumes

[@butterflygroove]

Can’t get over how exquisite these costumes are, what a treat to see them up close with all of the details. The Balanchine cameo was my favorite little secret revealed.

[@justinedelgaudio1056]

I can't decide what I love more... the Mouse King Head or all the amazing details on Marzipan!!

[@ainerobertson78]

absolutely entranced. I loved listening to him talk about the construction of the outfits!

[@JoyfulNerd400]

Desperately need more of this man

[@jodidemay5521]

Thank you for allowing us behind the scenes all the artists from dancers to costume makers to shoe makers to set design is so magical

[@BunchesofMunches]

Truly exquisite costumes

[@L-Ondee]

Wonderful how George Balanchine honours the work of Karinska! There was a similar, and just as successful, artistic relationship between John Cranko and Jürgen Rose. Costume designers deserve that kind of respect and gratitude! If they do theirLike job like Karinska and Rose they do bring the characters to life fully on stage!

[@HvnnaASMR]

Absolutely loved this. I like that a wide variety of costumes were shown and the camera work was high quality, so I was able to pause and admire all of the sparkles and embellishments!

[@mvrooks]

when I was a child, somebody gave me a copy of A Very Young Dancer by Jill Krementz. Written in the 70s, it told the story of the Balanchine Nutcracker production, with special attention paid to the costumes. it was a book I enjoyed looking at over and over. Now seeing this video, it shows that the New York Cty Ballet is committed to this version of the Nutcracker and its iconic costumes. The book was all in black-and-white, so when I watched this video, it was really exciting to see the costumes in full color! The only thing I wish was included was Mother Ginger’s enormous costume! Maybe next year?? Thank you so much for putting this out!

[@susie8799]

nutcracker was such a huge part of my childhood, I’m so glad to see kids are still enjoying it

[@rachelc3787]

the dew drop costume with the horsehair trim is so exquisite

[@jayneterry8701]

Thank you Korinska for your costumes! So cool to all the makers and dyer and the tree 🎄 is one of my favorites! ❤

[@bobbiedeguilo1029]

Gorgeous costumes!

[@nancywillaert5129]

The beauty is now there are books with the story, but also the music. Since our granddaughter is born we bought books that where interactive and the music getting along with the theme. This year we bought her two books, the Nutcracker and Swan lake. My two favorite ballets. It’s fun to have a daughter that values music in all it’s forms and tunes. I danced myself more as a hobby but our teacher was a former ballerina in Belgium and she was ademend that we would be like the ones in the Antwerp Ballet School. But i loved the drill of it. And even with my illness it gave me a good posture and even as a 56 year old still do some exercises to keep my joints flexible enough.

[@tlhommedieu]

absolutely fascinating! please give us more of this!

[@drumandeebass797]

I am the audience for this.

[@stevieandthebarbies]

All stunning - to see this would be my only excuse to go to America! The Dewdrop has to be my favourite.

[@mortifera123]

So so beautiful!! Thank you for sharing all the details of the costume. Amazing to see what they look like up closer than we'd ever see from the audience.

[@Satopi3104]

Grew up watching this every year. Lovely to see the details of the costumes from my memories.

[@demichenart]

Loved every second of this, so insightful and magical! 💖✨

[@mermaidopulence8539]

We just finished our Nutcracker performances and I wish we could do more shows because I love it so much. Our ballet studio is Balanchine style and we have a picture of him in the dancer's lounge. Also we have a running joke at the studio that every time one of the studio doors opens during class (the doors don't shut all the way) we say it's the ghost of Balanchine coming in to watch the class.

[@INOBT100]

I don't know about you but when I first looked at the Sugarplum tutu designs, it really reminded me of a bell tutu, which is weird cause one's romantic and the other one's classical. BTW the Mouse King's seven heads are probably among the most difficult parts to wear, sew, or even design in the first place; that's why most productions drop the concept.

[@MattK-uv2gg]

Super interesting, I had no idea how much goes into these costumes

[@chewyah]

NYCB nutcracker isn't my favorite BUT the NYCB costumes are by far the best (and the stage sets are the best with NYCB too)

[@tesscarvelli4690]

I happen to be a seamstress, and I absolute absolutely adore Marie’s party dress. I want to make the dress, and would like to know where I can find that fabric and those other materials, please?

[@lacouerfairy]

Wonderful!

[@56ghostwriter]

I never got to work on any ballets, but using vodka for cleaning, that's a new one on me!

[@jaxn1221]

delightful

[@germainelowpt7206]

So interesting

[@KIKISCLEANGLOVES]

❤

[@slab3662]

Please continue to post content about your costuming!!!

[@OofusTwillip]

Those Chinese costumes are no longer used, because the Chinese Tea dance is now recognized as being highly racist. With the permission of the Balanchine Trust, the segment has been reimagined as a celebration of Chinese culture, led by a beatiful blue cricket.