It’s #HugABearDay! The grizzly bear (not huggable) is one of California’s most enduring symbols, adorning the state flag and state seal. So it’s not surprising that over 75 years and 5 productions, San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker has featured at least 3 different dancing bears (all quite huggable).
In the 1967 Lew Christensen production, designed by Robert O’Hearn, the bear appeared as part of the party scene, as an entertaining gift from Herr Drosselmeyer.