Since The Nutcracker Ballet is now an annual holiday event, it's time to teach children about the history, the story, and enhance this ballet with some fun activities.
History of The Nutcracker
The first performance of The Nutcracker, set to Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite, premiered at the Mayinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 17, 1892. The San Francisco Ballet was the first company to perform The Nutcracker in the United States in 1944. The New York City Ballet version, the most popular, was choreographed by George Balanchine on February 2, 1954. His choreography endures and is performed by ballet companies across the nation each year.
Synopsis of the Story
The ballet is based on the The Nutcracker and the Rat King written by the German author, E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. The Nutcracker tells the tale of a little girl named Clara and her magical adventures with a nutcracker doll. The night of Christmas Eve, the doll comes alive to battle and defeat the King of the Mice with Clara's help. The Nutcracker Prince then whisks Clara on a journey through the "Land of Snow" and then into the "Kingdom of Sweets" where the pair meet many characters, including the Sugar Plum Fairy.
What is a Ballet?
A ballet tells a story using only dance, music and mime. Play the musical score by Tchaikovsky and ask the children to guess which characters are identified by certain musical changes. Listen for marches, battles, magic, Arabian, Chinese and Russian music, The Waltz of the Flowers, clowns, flutes, and the famous Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
As the music is played, have the children wave scarves of fabric or use dancing wands they can make as a craft. Attach lengths of colorful ribbons to a cardboard paper towel tube with a stapler. The children can decorate the tube with holiday art using crayons, markers or stickers. As a variation, crepe paper streamers can be used in place of ribbon.
The Ballerina
When a ballerina jetes and priouettes across the stage, she uses dance steps instead of words to tell a story.
Children can follow her lead by using this finger puppet to act out a favorite story.
Materials Needed:
- poster board
- colorful markers
- bubble wrap
- pipe cleaner
- fingernail polish
Procedure:
- Sketch a simple ballerina silhouette on the poster board.
- Color the picture.
- Near the lower edge of the torso, cut out two leg holes that fit the finger size of a child.
- For a frilly tutu, use bubble wrap. Thread a pipe cleaner through one long edge, gathering the bubble wrap. Then wrap the tutu around the ballerina's waist and twist the pipe cleaner for a tight fit.
- Invite the child to place her fingers inside the holes and use the fingers as the ballerina's legs to dance.
- For shiny ballet slippers, encourage the child to paint her fingernails with pretty pink nail polish.
Holiday Snacks
Sugarplums
Grind two cups of pitted prunes. Add one teaspoon orange rind and one tablespoon of orange juice. Form this mixture into walnut-sized balls and roll in flaked coconut. Chill and serve.
Nutcracker Medley
Mix together four cups of popped popcorn, along with pretzel sticks, mixed nuts, golden raisins and peppermint candy cane pieces. Serve this in plastic holiday bags or festive paper cups.
From the very young to the very old, The Nutcracker Ballet for children has been a favorite especially during the holiday season in December. Invite children to partake in these best ever holiday activities that will help them to enhance the story.
HOL101
 |
 |
 |
