Ballet Arizona introduced a sensory-friendly, inclusive performance of The Nutcracker, ensuring more families experience the magic

Phoenix (STN) – The Nutcracker returned to Phoenix this holiday season with more than magic and music. It arrived with a new commitment to inclusion.

Ballet Arizona artistic director Daniela Cardim joined the December 2025 episode of ‘It Happens at STN’ to share how the iconic holiday ballet was not only returning with the Phoenix Symphony, but expanding who gets to experience it. For Cardim, the performance carries deep meaning.

“The Nutcracker for most dancers, certainly for me as a child, was our first contact with dance,” Cardim said. “You go, you watch Nutcracker, and that inspires you to dance, to learn more about dance, to appreciate the performing arts.”