The holiday season in Dallas has a reliable anchor, and it's about to return. The Avant Chamber Ballet is bringing The Nutcracker back to Moody Performance Hall for a run from November 28 through December 6, 2026, and the draw here is the live orchestra. It's the kind of family-friendly tradition that slots easily into a Dallas calendar once the weather turns, and it's worth knowing the details before tickets start moving.
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The music is a big part of the appeal. The Dallas Chamber Symphony provides the live score, led by its founder and artistic director, Richard McKay, who has been at the helm since 2011. McKay holds a doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory and a Master of Music in orchestral conducting from The University of Texas at Austin, and his ensemble brings the Tchaikovsky score to life rather than relying on a recording. The choreography comes from Paul Mejia, who was born in Lima, Peru, joined the New York City Ballet as a professional dancer in 1964, and later served as artistic director of the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet from 1987 to 1998. Together, they put on a production that runs about an hour and 50 minutes, with a 20-minute intermission built in.
Moody Performance Hall, at 2520 Flora Street in the Dallas Arts District, is a fitting home for it. The venue was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP and is owned and operated by the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, so it's a municipal space rather than a private club. It's a multi-disciplinary hall that hosts a wide range of programming beyond ballet, including the Dallas International Piano Competition and other events throughout the year. For this particular season, the hall is the home base for the Dallas Chamber Symphony's 2026-27 run, which opens with Dracula on October 30 and 31 and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on November 13 through 15 before The Nutcracker takes over.
On the practical side, the pricing is tiered so you can pick your budget. Tickets start at $27, with Balcony seats running from $33 to $48 and Orchestra seats from $48 up to $100. If you're bringing a larger group, there's a 10% discount for 10 or more people, which makes it easier to gather the extended family. Parking is one of the smoother parts of the experience: there's underground, on-site, valet, and self-parking, with lots located beneath both the Winspear Opera House and Moody Performance Hall, so you aren't hunting for a spot blocks away.
Whether this is your first holiday outing or your annual ritual, it's a straightforward evening: a live orchestra, a classic story, and a venue in the middle of the Arts District that's easy to get to and easy to park at. With the run spanning only about a week, it's the kind of thing that's worth planning a little ahead of time rather than leaving to the last minute.
Published Date
19 October 2026
