The Nutcracker Ballet is one of the most popular ballets of all time. It is shown around the world at Christmastime by ballet companies both big and small, with ballet dancers both young and old.
History
Tchaikovsky composed this ballet in 1891 based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s book titled “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” This full length story was adapted into “The Tale of the Nutcracker” by Alexandre Dumas Pére to become a two act ballet. This much abbreviated version is virtually the same as what is shown today. The premiere in St. Petersburg was largely considered a flop. The complete Nutcracker Ballet was not performed in the United States until 1944 when the San Francisco Ballet and their talented group of ballet dancers decided to tackle it.
Children
The premiere of the ballet in St. Petersburg featured child ballet dancers in all of the roles of children. This provoked some serious criticism, for although many children are quite talented dancers, a ballet dancer doesn’t become great until they have had years of practice to their technical performance. Adults started dancing the children’s parts in this ballet in 1919. Nowadays, large ballet companies often have children perform the children’s parts at the Silberhaus home and dance the part of the mice. The Nutcracker Ballet is often the first performance that children see or perform in. It has become a Christmas tradition for many families to see the ballerinas perform this piece.
Synopsis – Act I, Scene I
Act I is set on Christmas Eve at the Silberhaus home. Friends and family are gathered to celebrate, decorate, and exchange gifts. The children all open gifts when suddenly, a mysterious figure appears. It is Herr Drosselmeyer, godfather to the Silberhaus children, Clara and Fritz. He is a toymaker who brings life size dolls to dance for all of the children. Drosselmeyer produces a toy nutcracker, which Clara instantly takes a liking to. Her brother breaks it purposely, and Clara is heartbroken. The guests depart after a dance, and the children are sent to bed. Clara sneaks down in the night to check on the Nutcracker. Mice fill the room and begin to battle gingerbread soldiers lead by the Nutcracker.
Synopsis – Act I, Scene II
The mice led by the Mouse King are eating the gingerbread soldiers. Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King to distract him long enough for the Nutcracker to stab him. The mice scatter, and the Nutcracker changes into a handsome Prince. The Nutcracker Prince and Clara wander off into a pine forest by the light of the moon while snowflakes fall all around them.
Act II
Clara and her Prince travel to his kingdom, The Land of Sweets, which has been looked after by the Sugar Plum Fairy until his return. After telling everyone of Clara’s bravery, they hold a celebration for her with dancing sweets from around the world. There are ballerinas dancing as chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabica, Danish marzipan, Chinese tea, Russian candy canes, and Mother Ginger whose children are all hidden under her enormous dress. The children emerge from beneath and perform a dance together. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance together. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince are declared rulers of the Land of Sweets for all eternity.
It is amazing to see anything survive for over 100 years nearly intact, although there are many different variations of this ballet performed by ballet dancers around the world. This piece has made every child in the audience dream of becoming a ballerina for over a century now and, hopefully, will continue to do so for many years to come!