This December, the music of Tchaikovsky takes on a remarkable new dimension as South Carolina Ballet presents six performances of William Starrett’s Nutcracker with live orchestral accompaniment at the Koger Center for the Arts.
There are few pieces of music as immediately associated with Christmas as Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. From the delicate notes of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the sweeping beauty of the Waltz of the Flowers, the score has become inseparable from the holiday season.
In Columbia, South Carolina, audiences will have the opportunity to experience this music as it was intended: performed live, in the theatre, alongside the dancers.
For its 2026 holiday engagement, South Carolina Ballet will present all six performances of William Starrett’s Nutcracker with live accompaniment by the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Scott Weiss.
Taking place December 12–20 at the Koger Center for the Arts, the performances represent a significant expansion of live music for one of South Carolina’s most established holiday traditions.
A New Chapter for Nutcracker in Columbia
South Carolina Ballet originally planned live orchestral accompaniment for two Saturday evening performances in 2026. Following a decision to expand the musical presentation, the company announced that every Columbia performance, including all four matinées, would feature the orchestra.
The decision means that families attending a Sunday afternoon performance will experience the same live musical accompaniment as audiences attending on Saturday evening.
It also distinguishes South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker as the only Nutcracker presentation at the Koger Center for the Arts featuring live music during the 2026 holiday season.
For Columbia audiences, this brings together the scale of a fully professional ballet production and the musical richness of a live orchestra.
A Fully Professional Nutcracker at the Koger Center
Presented by South Carolina Ballet, the state’s largest professional ballet company, William Starrett’s production brings together professional dancers, elaborate scenery, detailed costumes, and theatrical effects.
The production follows Clara from a Christmas gathering into a world of extraordinary encounters, from the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King to the snow-covered kingdom and the Land of Sweets.
For many Columbia families, attending Nutcracker has become an annual Christmas tradition. For others, it serves as a first introduction to classical ballet.
The addition of live orchestral music at every performance offers both returning patrons and first-time visitors an opportunity to encounter the production on a grander musical scale.
Nutcracker with Live Orchestra: 2026 Performance Dates
South Carolina Ballet will present six performances at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia, South Carolina:
- Saturday, December 12: 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM
- Sunday, December 13: 3:00 PM
- Saturday, December 19: 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM
- Sunday, December 20: 3:00 PM
All six performances feature live music by the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra under the direction of Scott Weiss.
Venue: Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
Experience Nutcracker This Christmas
With professional ballet, Tchaikovsky’s orchestral score, and the atmosphere of the Koger Center, South Carolina Ballet’s 2026 Nutcracker offers Columbia audiences an exceptional performing arts experience during the Christmas season.
Whether it is a family’s first visit or a tradition spanning generations, the opportunity to hear this magnificent score performed live is reason enough to return to the theatre.