The Night Before the Nutcracker (American Ballet Theatre)

JOHN ROBERT ALLMAN lives in New York City, where he works in marketing for television and theater. He is the author of B Is for Ballet: A Dance Alphabet, Boys Dance!, and The Night Before the Nutcracker with American Ballet Theatre, in addition to A Is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z and B Is for Broadway: Onstage and Backstage from A to Z. He was born and raised in Texas, where he was often the only boy in dance class. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @Johnny_Allman.

JULIANNA SWANEY is an illustrator, designer, and fine artist whose work is inspired by the themes of imagination, whimsy, and melancholy. Her books include Mermaid School and I Will Always Be Your Bunny. Julianna studied printmaking at Maine College of Art and lives in Portland, Oregon. See more of her work online at juliannaswaney.com and on Instagram at @julianna_swaney.

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE is one of the greatest dance companies in the world, revered as a national treasure since its founding season in 1940. Its mission is to create, present, preserve, and extend the great repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only American cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities. ABT's repertoire includes full-length classics and contemporary masterpieces. In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT became America's National Ballet Company®. Find out more at ABT.org, and follow ABT dancers on Instagram at @abtofficial and @ABTSchool, on Twitter at @ABTBallet, and on Facebook at @AmericanBalletTheatre.