The Wethersfield Estate, situated in New York's Hudson Valley, encompasses a neo-Georgian manor house, formal garden and carriage house museum. The Wethersfield Foundation focuses on access to the arts, culture and land conservation, and during the pandemic partnered with the BalletCollective to keep this beloved holiday tradition alive in a re-imagined, safety-compliant way that was unlike any other production of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece. 

Filmmaker Annie Sundberg '90 captures the development of this project, which brought together a roster of internationally acclaimed dancers, furloughed at the time from New York City Ballet, including Sara Mearns, Tyler Angle, Ashley Laracey, and Taylor Stanley. Oscar de la Renta and Todd Snyder designed the costumes. Balsam Hill provided the Christmas trees and decorations. With the audience immersed in this production, attention was paid to every detail.

This film is a testament to the creativity and care that went into this show, which provided an essential outlet for these high-caliber artists as well as a rare opportunity to experience pure joy during the lockdown. Although the pandemic may at last feel like it's behind us, the role art can play in lifting our hearts during dark times is eternal, and this documentary celebrates the collaborative spirit which makes bold artistic endeavors possible.

D: Annie Sundberg '90, US, 2024, 1h26m

Co-sponsored by the Leslie Center for the Humanities, the Department of Film & Media Studies, the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship and the Center for Professional Development.