The labor dispute at Washington Ballet DCist told you about earlier this week has led the company to cancel all of its remaining performances of The Nutcracker, which opened Dec. 2, the Post is reporting.

The move could potentially jeopardize the rest of the company’s season, as The Nutcracker provides the majority of revenue that funds the rest of Washington Ballet’s performances throughout the year. All remaining tickets will be refunded, and instructions on how to redeem your refund can be found on the Washington Ballet web site.

Whatever your point of view on which side is to blame (and based on reader comments, there seems to be a pretty deep divide among ballet patrons), the reality is that many area residents will now miss out on a Christmas tradition that has lasted for more than 40 years. Though it is of course not an option for all, DCist has listed links below of alternative productions of The Nutcracker in nearby cities for all the Christmastime junkies out there.

>> Baltimore: Moscow Ballet, tickets still available for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. performance
>> Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Ballet, through Dec. 31
>> New York City: New York City Ballet, through Dec. 30

Also check out NutcrackerBallet.net for a list of all productions of the The Nutcracker, big and small, in the state of Maryland. Readers should feel free to leave any other recommendations in the comments.