Ballet West | The Nutcracker | Working Rehearsal

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Where DiD The NuTcracker Come From?Originally a short story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker was adapted into a ballet in 1892 by Russian choreographer Marius Petipa (PEH-ti-puh). He made many alterations to transform Hoffmann’s tale into a story told entirely through movement. Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (chy-KOFF-skee) composed the music.

Since its creation, many choreographers have adapted the story. Choreographers make it their own by creating new movement, usually keeping Tchaikovsky’s score. Some even choose to set the ballet in different time periods, locations, or cultures.

The Nutcracker’s winter scenes and themes of gift giving and family gatherings are a natural connection to the holiday season, leading to the annual appearance of the ballet around the United States.

Ballet West’s NuTcrackerWillam Christensen choreographed his version of The Nutcracker in 1944 for the San Francisco Ballet, creating the first full-length version of the ballet to be staged in the United States. In 1951, Christensen moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to establish Ballet West. The company has the longest unbroken performance history of The Nutcracker in the world.

The Nutcracker fights the Mouse King near the large Christmas tree. Photo by luke Isley.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Michael M. Kaiser President

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Season is presented with the support of Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; the Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Verizon Foundation; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ArtsEdgE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. ArtsEdgE is a part of Verizon Thinkfinity, a consortium of free educational Web sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

Learn more about Education at The Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2012 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

Ballet West

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Wo r k i n g r e h ear sal

Choreography by Willam Christensen

Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker

Christiana Bennett and Christopher Ruud in The Nutcracker.Photo by luke Isley.

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The StoryAct IIt is Christmas Eve and Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and their children Clara and Fritz are getting ready for a holiday party. Guests arrive, including Clara’s Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer (pronounced DROS-sel-MY-er). He has a special gift for Clara—a nutcracker made to look like a soldier. Clara adores her new toy.

Later that evening, Clara returns to the living room for one more look at her nutcracker, holding it close before falling asleep. Strange things happen: Huge mice dance in front of the Christmas tree that grows to an enormous size and her nutcracker comes alive.

A battle begins between the evil Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Clara, wishing to aid the Nutcracker, removes her shoe and throws it at the Mouse King. While he is distracted, the Nutcracker fatally stabs him with his sword.

Now magically-transformed into a prince, the Nutcracker thanks Clara and invites her to accompany him to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. On their way, they pass through the exquisite land of the Snow Queen and her Prince.

Act IIIn the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and the Nutcracker are entertained. Chinese, Spanish, and Arabian dancers perform, as does Mother Buffoon, who hides her many children under her skirt. The performances end with the grand pas de deux, (PAH-d’-DUEH) or duet, between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Afterward, Clara flies away in a sled with her Nutcracker.

Watch how:

n the Cavalier lifts the Sugar Plum Fairy high at the musical climax, her head and feet arching upward.

n the Cavalier supports the Sugar Plum Fairy while she balances on pointe and executes rapid turns called pirouettes.

exClusive: a Peek BehinD the Ballet West CurtainHave you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes? Read on!

The Cast:n There are at least two different

dancers to play every role. That way, they have days off and substitute for one another if needed.

n The dancers who perform as a group are called the corps (kohr), like the Snowflakes in the Land of Snow. They learn as many as six different roles.

n About 73 children dance in The Nutcracker. Rehearsals start in September for a December performance.

The Costumes:n It takes 40 hours for the stitchers,

(the people who sew each tutu skirt worn by the ballerinas) with more than 16 yards of netting in each one.

n Each Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu has more than 200 hand-sewn jewels and is worth over $2,500.

n Pointe shoes cost about $90; a ballerina can go through a pair of pointe shoes in a few days. About 162 pointe shoes are used in each Nutcracker season.

The Set:n On stage, the Christmas tree grows

to 40 feet. The tree is painted on a scrim, or cloth backdrop, with lights attached. It is folded carefully before each performance so it can rise seamlessly.

n Around 110 pounds of dry ice are used in each performance to produce the fog that is blown onstage to create an illusion of snow and ice.

Understanding The Nutcracker

A scene from the grand finale of The Nutcracker. Photo by luke Isley.

Mother Buffoon has two male dancers: one for the head and body and another for the legs. The dancer on top stands on a platform which is steered by the dancer on the bottom. Photo by luke Isley.

The StoryAct IIt is Christmas Eve and Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and their children Clara and Fritz are getting ready for a holiday party. Guests arrive, including Clara’s Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer (pronounced DROS-sel-MY-er). He has a special gift for Clara—a nutcracker made to look like a soldier. Clara adores her new toy.

Later that evening, Clara returns to the living room for one more look at her nutcracker, holding it close before falling asleep. Strange things happen: Huge mice dance in front of the Christmas tree that grows to an enormous size and her nutcracker comes alive.

A battle begins between the evil Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Clara, wishing to aid the Nutcracker, removes her shoe and throws it at the Mouse King. While he is distracted, the Nutcracker fatally stabs him with his sword.

Now magically-transformed into a prince, the Nutcracker thanks Clara and invites her to accompany him to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. On their way, they pass through the exquisite land of the Snow Queen and her Prince.

Act IIIn the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara and the Nutcracker are entertained. Chinese, Spanish, and Arabian dancers perform, as does Mother Buffoon, who hides her many children under her skirt. The performances end with the grand pas de deux, (PAH-d’-DUEH) or duet, between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Afterward, Clara flies away in a sled with her Nutcracker.

Watch how:

n the Cavalier lifts the Sugar Plum Fairy high at the musical climax, her head and feet arching upward.

n the Cavalier supports the Sugar Plum Fairy while she balances on pointe and executes rapid turns called pirouettes.

exClusive: a Peek BehinD the Ballet West CurtainHave you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes? Read on!

The Cast:n There are at least two different

dancers to play every role. That way, they have days off and substitute for one another if needed.

n The dancers who perform as a group are called the corps (kohr), like the Snowflakes in the Land of Snow. They learn as many as six different roles.

n About 73 children dance in The Nutcracker. Rehearsals start in September for a December performance.

The Costumes:n It takes 40 hours for the stitchers,

(the people who sew each tutu skirt worn by the ballerinas) with more than 16 yards of netting in each one.

n Each Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu has more than 200 hand-sewn jewels and is worth over $2,500.

n Pointe shoes cost about $90; a ballerina can go through a pair of pointe shoes in a few days. About 162 pointe shoes are used in each Nutcracker season.

The Set:n On stage, the Christmas tree grows

to 40 feet. The tree is painted on a scrim, or cloth backdrop, with lights attached. It is folded carefully before each performance so it can rise seamlessly.

n Around 110 pounds of dry ice are used in each performance to produce the fog that is blown onstage to create an illusion of snow and ice.

Understanding The Nutcracker

A scene from the grand finale of The Nutcracker. Photo by luke Isley.

Mother Buffoon has two male dancers: one for the head and body and another for the legs. The dancer on top stands on a platform which is steered by the dancer on the bottom. Photo by luke Isley.

Phot

o by

Car

ol P

ratt

Where DiD The NuTcracker Come From?Originally a short story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker was adapted into a ballet in 1892 by Russian choreographer Marius Petipa (PEH-ti-puh). He made many alterations to transform Hoffmann’s tale into a story told entirely through movement. Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (chy-KOFF-skee) composed the music.

Since its creation, many choreographers have adapted the story. Choreographers make it their own by creating new movement, usually keeping Tchaikovsky’s score. Some even choose to set the ballet in different time periods, locations, or cultures.

The Nutcracker’s winter scenes and themes of gift giving and family gatherings are a natural connection to the holiday season, leading to the annual appearance of the ballet around the United States.

Ballet West’s NuTcrackerWillam Christensen choreographed his version of The Nutcracker in 1944 for the San Francisco Ballet, creating the first full-length version of the ballet to be staged in the United States. In 1951, Christensen moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to establish Ballet West. The company has the longest unbroken performance history of The Nutcracker in the world.

The Nutcracker fights the Mouse King near the large Christmas tree. Photo by luke Isley.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Michael M. Kaiser President

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Season is presented with the support of Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian.

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; the Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Verizon Foundation; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge

Cuesheets are produced by ArtsEdgE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. ArtsEdgE is a part of Verizon Thinkfinity, a consortium of free educational Web sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

Learn more about Education at The Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education

The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2012 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

Ballet West

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Wo r k i n g r e h ear sal

Choreography by Willam Christensen

Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker

Christiana Bennett and Christopher Ruud in The Nutcracker.Photo by luke Isley.

Cuesheet P

erform

ance G

uid

e