Cosm, a global technology company that builds end-to-end solutions for immersive experiences, has announced a new partnership with New York City Ballet (NYCB). Together, they will bring George Balanchine's The Nutcracker to Cosm’s Shared Reality venues.
Filmed at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and produced exclusively for Cosm’s 87-foot-diameter, 12K+ LED domes, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Shared Reality will immerse guests in the magic of the iconic holiday production.
The experience launches this November, using Cosm's technology to bring the beloved tradition to audiences beyond New York City. It offers never-before-seen perspectives that transform how viewers experience Balanchine’s masterpiece.
Audiences will experience the full scale of NYCB's production, from the 41-foot Christmas tree and timeless Snow Scene to hundreds of world-class dancers, musicians, and young performers. Festive food and beverage options will add to the occasion.
A holiday classic
“What an honor to partner with the world-renowned New York City Ballet and The George Balanchine Trust to witness The Nutcracker come to life in Shared Reality, an entirely new medium for this iconic performance,” says Alexis Scalice, VP and head of Cosm Studios at Cosm.
“This partnership pushes the boundaries by uniting the arts with immersive technology, while honoring both tradition and innovation.
"Delivering on that promise this holiday season, we’re transporting audiences directly onto the stage at Lincoln Center with never-before-seen vantage points exclusive to Cosm.”
Katherine Brown, NYCB executive director, adds: “In 1954 New York City Ballet’s co-founder created his landmark production of The Nutcracker which is a jewel of our repertory and an annual highlight of the holiday season in New York City.
"Now, nearly 75 years after the work was first performed, New York City Ballet is thrilled to partner with Cosm to present a brand-new way to experience the beloved classic.
“I would also like to thank Karen Brooks Hopkins and Matt Hopkins (ACONA Real Estate Advisors) for introducing NYCB to Cosm and opening the door to this bold project that will expand the reach of New York City Ballet’s legendary production to new audiences across the country.”
An immersive experience
Jonathan Stafford, NYCB artistic director, says:
“Through Cosm’s extraordinary use of immersive technology, audiences will experience George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker as never before, going inside the production where they will feel like an onstage guest at the Stahlbaums’ holiday party where the magical story begins.
"They will then be transported to the forest for the iconic Snow Scene with its dazzling blizzard of ballerinas, and finally to the second act’s Land of the Sweets, where they will have a view of the festivities previously only experienced by the Sugarplum Fairy herself."
Since its 1954 debut, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker has attracted more than 100,000 people to Lincoln Center each year. Set to Tchaikovsky’s score, the production features George Balanchine's original choreography and additional staging by NYCB co-founding choreographer Jerome Robbins.
Regarded as the definitive American staging, it is renowned for its scale, artistry, and emotional impact.
A new twist on a much-loved production
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker in Shared Reality was filmed during New York City Ballet’s 2025-26 season. The production will feature NYCB principal dancers Tiler Peck as the Sugarplum Fairy, Roman Mejia as her Cavalier, Mira Nadon as Dewdrop, Emma Von Enck as Marzipan, and Taylor Stanley as Herr Drosselmeier.
They will be joined by more than 50 NYCB dancers and 70 students from the School of American Ballet, NYCB’s official school. The New York City Ballet Orchestra perform Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score, conducted by NYCB music director Andrew Litton, with The Boys of the Saint Thomas Choir.
Rouben Ter-Artunian designed the scenery, Karinska the costumes, and Mark Stanley the lighting, based on Ronald Bates’s original lighting design. Developed in collaboration with Cosm Studios, the project was adapted and directed by Philippe Safir.
Cosm has brought a diverse range of sporting events and entertainment programmes to its venues.
Its new partnership with NYCB marks the company’s first foray into ballet and classical arts, expanding its growing lineup of performing arts and theatrical programming, which includes Cirque du Soleil’s “O” and Mystère in Shared Reality.
Cosm has also joined forces with Universal Film and DreamWorks Animation to present Shrek in Shared Reality.
Charlotte Blanco Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
