An annual holiday tradition gets a new look and helps change how audiences see the famous Nutcracker Ballet.

Senior Arts Correspondent Jeffrey Brown explains how one ballet company is making this long-awaited leap.

It's part of our ongoing Race Matters coverage, as well as our arts and culture series, Canvas.

On a recent night at the Boston Opera House,

audiences brave New England's chill

for a beloved Christmas tradition presented by the Boston Ballet.

The Nutcracker, with music by Chikovsky, now with

choreography by Miko Nissenin, the company's artistic director.

Boston Ballet has performed the holiday classic every year for nearly six decades, including virtually in 2020 when performances across the country were forced online by COVID.

But this season marks a first.

When they presented the new head, it was just so special.

I felt seen.

Daniel Durrett, one of several dancers cast as the titular Nutcracker, is dancing in a costume that

matches his skin tone.

I have just grown up doing so many different versions of the Nutcracker, and I never

saw myself as the Nutcracker because it was a certain look to it.

No matter the version, it just kind of was always the same color.

The wooden toy that later transforms into a dashing prince is traditionally white. Duret made his

debut in the role last year. I think last year, it was a bit of a disconnect when I took off

the Knackerhead. Artistic director Nisenin says he had started to feel the same way.

We have some amazing black dancers doing the lead role, and it felt like, hmm, that's a little strange.

So he commissioned a new Nutcracker Head for Direcounter Head for Direc to Wear this season.

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