CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Ballet makes “The Nutcracker” look easy as dancers interpret a famous story written by E.T.A. Hoffmann and set to music composed by the renowned Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. They seem to defy gravity, moving elegantly through space to share the delightful holiday tradition.

But what does it really take to put on a “Nutcracker” production at the Connor Palace Theater at Playhouse Square? We talked to the company about their upcoming performances on Dec. 12 to 14 and Dec. 19 to 21. Here’s what they said.

200 hours of rehearsal

Cleveland Ballet dancers rehearse five hours each day, five days per week, for eight weeks. With a few extra hours here and there, dancers spend more than 200 hours practicing their roles. While rehearsals officially began November 3,

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