The Nutcracker Fund for Children

An initiative by Les Grands Ballets

Les Grands Ballets is committed to give back to the community and to contribute to the well-being of vulnerable youths. For 23 years now, The Nutcracker Fund allows us to share the magic of the famous ballet to underprivileged children.

Part of a desire to democratize ballet and offer an access to art to all, this program offers a complete immersion in the universe of the show with : Educational workshops, An educational matinee and Costumes and sets refurbishment

Learn more about our youth project!

iPhoto: Sasha Onyshchenko | Dancer: Myriam Simon

Educational Workshops

Every fall, more than 200 educational workshops are offered to more than 1,500 students from underprivileged areas, selected by Une école montréalaise pour tous (a program by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur du Québec). It’s a chance for them to enter the universe of The Nutcracker in a fun, participative and creative way and to get to see the dancers in our new studios. A wonderful way to stimulate a taste for the arts and to reinforce self-esteem, contributing to the fight against early school dropouts.

Dance: a short choreography taught with some of Les Grands Ballets’ dancers, in our new studios, then performed as a flash mob in the corridors of Place des Arts, prior to the educational matinée performance

Animated Film: making of short animated films in stop-motion which will be screened on the TV screens of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Place des Arts) during The Nutcracker

Costumes: making of costumes inspired by The Nutcracker characters, then exhibited at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Place des Arts) during The Nutcracker production

Visual Arts: production of printed canvas and 3D totems inspired by The Nutcracker characters, then exhibited at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Place des Arts) during The Nutcracker production

Educational Matinee

Eager to favour an exposure to art for all, to democratize ballet and to take part in the cultural education of the new generation, Les Grands Ballets offer each year a full-length performance of The Nutcracker, with orchestra, to 2,800 children from youth foundations and to students from underprivileged areas selected by Une école montréalaise pour tous, a program of the Ministère de l’éducation.

iPhoto: Sasha Onyshchenko

Refurbishment of costumes and sets

Did you know that The Nutcracker is the longest production on the same stage in Canada? The Fund allows the annual renewal of sets and costumes of the production, which will be performed for the 57th edition.

In numbers: