The Syracuse City Ballet has been producing its rendition of The Nutcracker since the company was founded in 1996 by Kathleen Rathbun and Harriet Casey.

READ MORE: Syracuse City Ballet revives tradition with ‘Nutcracker’ at Crouse-Hinds Theater - syracuse.com

Fast forward to 2022, After SCB revived its Nutcracker production in 2021 from its COVID hiatus-- a new Artistic Director is hired, who happens to be a former "Company Dancer and Assistant Ballet Master" (2019), according to the Syracuse City Ballet website.

So put a pin right there.

According to multiple reports, a 15-year-old dancer named Paige Wilder, who has been dancing in the Nutcracker with the Syracuse City Ballet for 6 years, told reporters that she quit the ballet because of "an uncomfortable encounter she had on November 10 with the company’s artistic director."

READ MORE: Dancer quits Nutcracker after ‘uncomfortable encounter’ with Syracuse City Ballet management (msn.com)

Wilder went on to say,

“I don’t feel comfortable, I don’t feel safe, I don’t feel loved. They fired the girls and guys who came to my defense and tried to protect me, and I just don’t feel right supporting a company that gets rid of the people that tried to help me.”

Whell.

Multiple reports are saying the dancers were fired because they were striking about poor working conditions. All of which alludes to management issues.  What's interesting is that one can also tell that the dancers are being intentionally vague by not mentioning names and keeping their comments general.

 READ MORE: Support for Syracuse City Ballet dancers brings a return to the stage (msn.com)

Could it be "poor working conditions" and "management issues" is dancer speak for something else entirely?

We may never know.

What we do know is that the dancers who were fired, while understandably miffed, are moving on from the whole ordeal. The SCB ran its Nutcracker from December 1-3, so that's that on that. No word on reviews of the show. However,

"On Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m., the six professional dancers (who were fired from the SCB Nutcracker performances) will perform a holiday program that includes scenes from "The Nutcracker" as well as works set to holiday favorites like "Carol of the Bells," and "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." You can read more below.

READ MORE: Dancers fired from Syracuse’s ballet to stage their own performance later this month (msn.com)