Every year, The Nutcracker ballet is performed all over the world, the music of Tchaikovsky providing one of the many sounds of the Christmas season.  But what exactly goes into staging a ballet that features so many dancers and is often performed with a young cast?

This is exactly what the confectionary documentary Getting to The Nutcracker aims to explore, a behind the scenes look at the collaborative process of keeping the tradition alive that provides enjoyable holiday viewing.  The film starts a limited run at the Bloor Cinema today, tickets and showtimes are right here.

Director Serene Mashel-Dillman follows a group of students at the Marat Daukayev School of Ballet in Los Angeles, as they tirelessly rehearse their roles and overcome stage fright to put on a memorable show for themselves and the audience, under the tutelage of their renowned Russian teacher.

Although running a little long at 100 minutes and not always going that deep, there is still a lot of stuff to enjoy throughout Getting to The Nutcracker.  As the film counts down the days to opening night, we get to see the admirable drive and determination of these young performers, through interviews and ample dance footage.  Giving equal time to both the girls and boys who make up the dance studio, this is an entertaining and nicely filmed documentary that offers a thorough look at what it takes to perform one of the most beloved ballets of all time.