Boston Ballet plans layoffs

The Boston Ballet plans to lay off 11 administrative and teaching employees and cancel four performances of “Romeo and Juliet” following sluggish sales for “The Nutcracker.”

Ballet officials said the Christmas ballet brought in $800,000 less than expected after ticket sales declined by 14% from the previous year.

“As you know, most ballet companies depend on ‘Nutcracker’ performances as a major source of revenue, and Boston Ballet is no exception,” executive director Valerie Wilder said.