Whipped Cream was magical. Like The Nutcracker—that ethereal, sugar-spun, fairytale kind of magical—meets something out of a Hans Christian Anderson fable. And while you can’t go wrong with the ABT company or a storyline that involves inanimate objects (in this case, candy, tea, and sweets) coming to life, Mark Ryden’s vision was what made this ballet truly special. The costumes were stunning, the choreography intricate (more modern than a traditional ballet, the genius of Alexei Ratmansky), the set beyond words. It’s a shame I couldn’t take any pictures. Seeing Mark Ryden’s paintings come to life was truly spectacular. Princess Praline (played by the inimitable Misty Copeland) and Her Entourage was a visual masterpiece, but it was actually the simplicity of “Whipped Cream” that was most breathtaking of them all. But I suppose you’ll just have take my word for it. . . . xx