The Moscow Ballet stormed the Seneca Niagara Casino on Friday night in Niagara Falls at the casino's Seneca Events Center. The occasion marked the second year in a row that the Ballet has visited the casino and hotel, and was also the opening show of three performances this weekend of the production's Great Russian Nutcracker. The curtain opened just after eight pm, and the diverse audience was instantly captivated by the light aerial footwork of the dancers and the gentle sounds of the accompanying orchestra.

A beautiful backdrop of a ballroom detailed with regal pillars, a grand chandelier, rich draperies, and an ornamented Christmas tree adorned the stage as the dancers dazzled the crowd with ornate jewelry and colorful costumes ranging from full skirted ball gowns to formal tuxedos. The male and female dancers alike were amazingly graceful and skillful in their delivery of the Nutcracker tale. Patrons remarked on the performers' incredible skill and impressive physical prowess, one gasping, "She has got to be double jointed."

Convincingly portraying a gamut of characters, from a nutcracker prince and a Mouse King to angels, fairy princesses, and butterflies, the performers maintained firm, doll like movements while simultaneously incorporating an incredibly fluid grace and impeccable elegance to their performance.

An ever changing background set the scenery for each dance, and every feat saw spectators erupt in appreciative applause. With incredible lifts, spins, twirls, and an astounding display of flexibility and agility, members of the ballet dazzled the awestruck crowd. Timeless and extraordinarily recognizable songs of the Nutcracker were delivered perfectly by the in house orchestra, with infamous works such as the "Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy" and "The Nutcracker Suite," along with many others providing a dramatic and immaculately sequenced soundtrack to the artful dancers. Beautiful music and costumes added to the effect of the depiction of Arabian, Chinese, and Spanish dances.

During the second half of the act, a variety of creatures took the stage and aisles, with a mouse king, elephants, bears, dragons and more adding intrigue to the scene. The wispy female dancers effortlessly floated into the air as their male counterparts amazed the audience with series after series of back flips, cartwheels, and other astonishing feats of strength and grace.

The final moments of the ballet drew to a close with a culmination or horns, drums, and other accompanying instruments, and the entertainers flew onto the stage to collectively take their bows to the wildly enthusiastic cheers and applause of the audience.

The Moscow Ballet has been touring and performing the Great Russian Nutcracker in the U.S. for fifteen years. The second and third performances continue Saturday at 3 pm and 8 pm. More information on the production can be found on their website at www.nutcracker.com and www.myspace.com/moscowballet.