Two Giant Nutcrackers Arrive at Cadance’s Nutcracker!

Cadance Academy’s Nutcracker production is excited to present two breathtaking, 12-foot-tall crochet Nutcrackers proudly displayed in our lobby for this year’s performances. These extraordinary creations were made by the skilled Crochet Crowd team—Michael Sellick, Daniel Zondervan, Kevin Price, and Karen Price—over three months of dedicated crafting.

Each Nutcracker was built almost entirely from scratch, with most of the crochet stitches free-formed to perfectly match their impressive size. Some appliques and dolls are based on modified patterns designed specifically to fit the theme.

From initial framework to final details, these Nutcrackers took about 1,150 hours of meticulous work, reflecting a labor value of $18,000. The materials and yarn cost approximately $2,000. Together, these two magnificent sculptures are valued at least $20,000. They have been showcased before in Ottawa at the National Arts Center and for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada’s Nutcracker productions. We are truly honored to have them featured here at our Nutcracker!

Each Nutcracker represents a different act from the Nutcracker Ballet Suite:

The Green Nutcracker – Act 1

In Act 1, the Nutcracker is a toy, captured in the playful design of the Green Nutcracker’s face and vibrant costume adorned with cross-stitching details. This act includes scenes of falling snow, a Christmas party, and the climactic battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The top hat highlights key story elements with toy soldiers, snare-playing rabbits, and mice.

By the end of this act, the Nutcracker triumphs over the Mouse King and transforms into a prince—leading us to our second figure.

The Purple Nutcracker – Act 2

In Act 2, the Nutcracker has become a prince who guides the dreaming girl through the magical Land of Sweets. His costume reflects this transformation with candy-themed details covering his attire. The top hat features depictions of the Sugar Plum Fairies, Russian Dancers, Chinese Dancers, and the Dance of the Flowers.

For an inside look at how these incredible Nutcrackers were created, explore their full behind-the-scenes gallery: View our Nutcracker Gallery. We are thrilled to bring these stunning works of art to life as part of this beloved holiday tradition!

We are thrilled to bring these stunning works of art to life as part of this beloved holiday tradition!