Around the world in 40 pirouettes: backstage at English National Ballet's Nutcracker – in pictures
Merry Christmas! To get in the festive mood, we went to the rehearsals for English National Ballet’s Nutcracker and watched dances from Spain, Arabia, China and Russia
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Crystal Costa, centre, warming up on stage for the Spanish dance in Act II. Alina Cojocaru, playing Clara, is on the far left of the frame
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Did someone forget her tutu? … ENB dancers rehearse on stage
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Twirling like a dervish. Warming up for the Russian dance in Act II.
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The Spanish trio … Crystal Costa, Yonah Acosta (nephew of Carlos – but you knew that) and Anjuli Hudson in the pas de trois from Act II
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Is that hat glued on? Shevelle Dynott dances the Arabian divertissement in Nutcracker Act II
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Up and away … the Chinese trio from Act II.
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Quick, run! … James Streeter as the Mouse King in the Nutcracker. Now that is a Christmas tree
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Legwarmers optional … Crystal Costa warms up. Don’t try this at home on Christmas morning. Unless you are Crystal Costa.
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Soloist Fernando Bufalá, mid-leap, in the Russian dance from Act II. Must be running from the Mouse King …
