GETTING TO THE NUTCRACKER

Director Serene Meshel-Dillman

The documentary "Getting to the Nutcracker" was inspired by a book published in 1976 by Jill Krementz titled "A Very Young Dancer". The book followed students at The School of American Ballet (SAB) from auditions through performances of The Nutcracker Ballet with New York City Ballet. Serene was a student at SAB at this time.

After leaving SAB, she danced at Melissa Hayden's and The Alvin Ailey School.

She attended the University of Vermont where she performed with the Main Street Dance Theater. A love of photography was enhanced by darkroom and printing courses, and has continued to be her passion.

Serene continues to attend the Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker production in Los Angeles and Getting to The Nutcracker continues to delight audiences worldwide every holiday season.

Her documentary, The 5th Dementia, about a band whose members live with Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s and are changed by the music they play, is available on YouTube: YouTube.com/@Confiscatedfilm.

Serene’s most recent project, Take Me Out Feet First, is a series about medical aid in dying (MAID). Season one follows terminally ill patients from around the U.S. who are advocating for the choice to avoid pain and suffering at the end of their lives. Season One is available to watch now on YouTube: YouTube.com/@Confiscatedfilm. Look for Season 2 coming in 2027.