By Clémence Michallon (The Independent, United Kingdom) It’s Christmas Eve. A girl is given a wooden nutcracker. She falls asleep; suddenly, she’s transported into another world, where toys are as tall as humans, mice rebel against their king, and flowers are free to waltz. Every December, the story gets told anew: At dance companies around the world, Nutcracker season whirls in. The Nutcracker is one of the most popular … Continue reading How The Nutcracker became the most popular ballet in the world – and a holiday colossus