Ballet Philippines’ ‘The Nutcracker’ brings Filipino heart to Christmas classic

Every detail behind Ballet Manila’s staging of “The Nutcracker” tells a story long before the first notes of music play. Intricate set pieces take shape in the wings. Hand-crafted costumes fill the dressing rooms. Furthermore, dancers push their physical limits to transform strict classical form into raw, unfiltered heart. Bringing Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 1892 holiday