Ballet, which is usually confined to the stage, comes to life through movement, sound, and light at Farol Santander. This Friday, the 13th, the cultural center opens “The Magic of The Nutcracker,” a 400-square-meter exhibition based on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. So, instead of watching the story from a distance, you’ll walk right into it in this brand-new immersive exhibition!
The project features Fernanda Chamma as artistic curator, Franz Manata for visual arts, Fabia Feixas as co-curator, and Priscilla Yokoi as artistic director. The team designed the exhibition specifically for Farol Santander’s Christmas program, offering a year-end attraction never before seen in São Paulo.
“The Magic of The Nutcracker” and “Fantastic Tree” are part of Farol Santander’s lineup this holiday season
Inspired by classical ballet, the exhibition combines set design, interactive environments, and an original soundtrack. Each space explores the fantastical atmosphere of the narrative and brings the audience closer to the settings and characters that have become a Christmas tradition around the world. In addition, historical costumes and original pieces allow the audience to examine the details of the stage costumes.
The experience begins right on the ground floor of Farol, with the 10-meter-tall Fantastic Christmas Tree! The tree is decorated with 750 ornaments, including balls, decorations, and nutcracker figurines made exclusively for the occasion.
A 2.30-meter-wide passageway also allows visitors to explore the interior of the tree, where a 360-degree audiovisual projection offers a sneak peek at what the audience will see in “The Magic of The Nutcracker.” And best of all: although tickets must be purchased for the exhibition, visiting the Christmas Tree is free!
Discover the origins of Tchaikovsky’s classic
The story originated in 1816 with the short story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by the German author E.T.A. Hoffmann, which had a much more tragic tone than the version we know today. In 1844, the French author Alexandre Dumas softened the text, and it was this family-friendly adaptation that made its way to the stage with Tchaikovsky’s music.
The ballet premiered on December 18, 1892, at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. Success was not immediate: critics initially found the libretto strange, considering it confusing and featuring too many child dancers.
Nevertheless, George Balanchine’s 1950 production in New York brought The Nutcracker ballet the recognition it deserved and transformed it into a global Christmas tradition.
📍 Where: Farol Santander – Rua João Brícola, 24 – Historic
Center 📆 When: Starting November 13, 2026
⏰ Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8
p.m. 🎟️ Tickets: Starting at R$ 22.50 (exhibition)
🩰 More information: Visit the official Farol Santander website
