About The Nutcracker Ballet
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story by E.T. A. Hoffman called “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice”. The details in the ballet you watch on stage today are different from the original story but the basic plot remains the same. You will see the story of a young girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince who fights against the evil Mouse King.
Marius Petipa who originally choreographed The Nutcracker based the story from a version by a French author named Alexander Dumas. Petipa, who worked with Tchaikovsky who composed for several other ballets for Petipa, worked with him again on The Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky created some of his most memorable and famous pieces for the ballet.
The Nutcracker takes place on Christmas Eve. The curtain opens and Drosselmeyer and his apprentice are in Drosselmeyer’s toy shop, SP and Co., getting all the toys together that Drosselmeyer plans to surprise the Stahlbaum family with. Street vendors gather while families walk through the town shopping and taking a look inside the toy shop to see the newest toys. Drosselymer, the apprentice, and families make their way to the Stahlbaum’s house for their annual Christmas party.
The Stahlbaum’s maids are getting the house ready for their party guests. A beautiful Christmas tree, presents, scrumptious sweets, and the most beautiful cake are there for the guest to enjoy. The guest arrive and Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum, along with their children, Clara and Fritz are so happy to greet them. Everyone is dancing and having a wonderful time when all of a sudden Drosselmeyer and his apprentice arrive. He is full of surprises and draws their attention to two life size dolls and jack in the boxes. They are the delight of the party and each of them take their turn to dance.
The children open up their gifts and Drosselmeyer has a special present for Clara. He gives her a beautiful Nutcracker. This was the nutcracker that he had painted in his workshop earlier that day. Clara loves the Nutcracker and Fritz becomes very jealous. He grabs the nutcracker from Clara and breaks it. Clara is heartbroken and brings it to Drosselmeyer to fix. He quickly repairs the Nutcracker and Clara is filled with joy.
The evening grows late quickly and the guests start to depart for home. Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum send their kids to bed. Clara wants to take the Nutcracker with her but is told to leave him by the tree. She grows worried about him and sneaks back to the tree to check on him where she falls asleep with him in her arms.
Clara wakes up. The clock strikes midnight and strange things begin to happen. Things start to come to life as Drosselmeyer uses his magic. The room is filled with an army of mice that are led by the evil Mouse King. The Nutcracker appears with his army of toy soldiers and they go into battle with the mice. The Mouse King and Nutcracker battle one on one and the Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King until finally Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him in the head and he drops to the floor. The mice carry their leader’s lifeless body away. As the Nutcracker lays on the floor, Clara is distraught that her Nutcracker is gone. Drosselmeyer appears and uses his magic to turn the Nutcracker into a Prince. The Nutcracker Prince and Clara dance together.
Clara and the Nutcracker Prince go on a journey to the Land of the Snow which is an enchanted forest where they are welcomed by dancing snow flakes and a beautiful Snow Queen. Act I ends with Angels appearing and lead Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to the Land of the Sweets.
Act II opens with the graceful Angels dancing as the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy appears. She greets the Nutcracker Prince who is escorting Clara to the Land of the Sweets. The Nutcracker Prince tells her about their battle with the army of mice and Mouse King and she rewards them with a celebration of dances and treats. Candy canes bring on treats before each dance. Spanish dancers representing chocolate, Arabian dancers representing coffee, Chinese dancers representing tea, Russian dancers representing peppermint, Mirlitons representing marzipan, Mother Ginger with her bon bons representing gingerbread, and flowers representing cake flowers accompanying the beautiful Dewdrop Fairy.
Sugar Plum Fairy asks the Nutcracker Prince to dance with her to conclude the celebration. He becomes her cavalier. The two dance an exquisite pas de deux followed by a variation by the cavalier and then one of the most memorable dances danced by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The two finish with an exciting coda. All the Sweets dance together in celebration.
All the Sweets start to take their turn in saying goodbye to Clara. The Dewdrop Fairy brings a special gift and gives it to the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy presents the Nutcracker doll that Drosselmeyer had made to Clara. Act II closes as all the Sweets have faded away; the Sugar Plum Fairy and Nutcracker Prince start to leave and Clara is left with her beloved Nutcracker doll.