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Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker: Go Inside Ballerina Tiler Peck's Day as the Sugar Plum Fairy

Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker: Go Inside Ballerina Tiler Peck's Day as the Sugar Plum Fairy

From lucky legwarmers to tons of tulle, ballet superstar Tiler Peck gives us an insider's look at the magical holiday ballet

By Alex Apatoff

December 10, 2018 03:00 PM

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Nutcracker Notes

Prima ballerina Tiler Peck, a principal with the New York City Ballet, is one of the most recognizable faces - and feet! - in the world of dance. So it's no surprise that people flock to see her as Dewdrop and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the company's legendary production of The Nutcracker. She takes us behind the scenes to see all the lights, lipstick and tons of tulle that goes into one of the holiday season's most gorgeous traditions.

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Tulle Time

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"It’s Sugar Plum time and my pink tutu just arrived in my dressing room!"

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Puppy Love

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"My special dressing-room helper Cali who likes to keep my pointe shoes warm and ready for me."

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Getting Warmer

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"My slightly superstitious warmup up outfit that I wear every night before a performance — my lucky pink 'Motivated' T-shirt, my J. Crew grey sweats, and my pink and grey leg warmers from Paris."

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Crowning Glory

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"I do my own hair and makeup for performances, but I always go to Susie, our hairdresser, to my make sure my tiara is placed in the correct spot!"

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Perfectly Polished

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"Putting the finishing touches on at my dressing room spot."

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Squeaking By

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"The little mice hang out right outside my dressing room anxiously awaiting their entrance in the battle scene."

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Tree Topper

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"One of the best moments in the Nutcracker is when the Christmas tree grows in the Act 1 Party Scene ... night after night it never gets old!"

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Sew Pretty

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"The snowflake ladies are backstage 'sewing in' as we like to call it. This is a thing we ballerinas do in order to make sure our ribbons don’t come out onstage."

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Flurry of Activity

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"The snowflakes always do a musical warm up in a circle before entering; it has definitely become a ritual."

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Tutu Cute

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"Angels in waiting. These little girls literally make being the Sugar Plum everything. It is so touching to see their sweet little faces looking up, aspiring to be the Sugar Plum Fairy one day."

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Ballet Break

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"Intermission - a typical chaotic moment with beautiful costumes everywhere!!!"

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Totally On Point

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"A moment caught backstage of me patiently awaiting my first entrance!"

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Nutcracker Sweet

Credit: Courtesy Tiler Peck

"A special moment captured where all of the other divertissements blow on the Sugar Plum Fairy, sending her good vibes and good luck. This is something that always gives me the last-minute confidence boost I need to make my entrance."

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Final Bows

"We did it!! Poses post performance with my partner Joseph Gordon!"

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Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker: Go Inside Ballerina Tiler Peck's Day as the Sugar Plum Fairy

1 of 15

Nutcracker Notes

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Tulle Time

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Puppy Love

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Getting Warmer

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Crowning Glory

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Perfectly Polished

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Squeaking By

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Tree Topper

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Sew Pretty

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Flurry of Activity

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Tutu Cute

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Ballet Break

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Totally On Point

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Nutcracker Sweet

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Final Bows

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