The Nutcracker: Ballet West Working Rehearsal

Photo by Carol Pratt

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

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 Nutcracker Willam 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.

Ballet West Wor ki ng R e h earsal

Deborah F. Rutter President

The Nutcracker

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Season is presented with the support of Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian.

Choreography by Willam Christensen Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of the 2014-2015 Ballet Season.

Additional support for this Working Rehearsal is made possible by Kaplan, Inc.; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

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

Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2014 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Christiana Bennett and Christopher Ruud in The Nutcracker.

Photo by Luke Isley.

Performance Guide

Photo by Luke Isley.

Cuesheet

The Nutcracker fights the Mouse King near the large Christmas tree.

Understanding The Nutcracker The Story Act I It 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 DROSsel-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.

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.

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 II In 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 Curtain Have 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

Ballet West dancers in The Nutcracker scene, The Waltz of the Flowers. Photo by Luke Isley.

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 The Story Act I It 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 DROSsel-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.

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.

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 II In 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 Curtain Have 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

Ballet West dancers in The Nutcracker scene, The Waltz of the Flowers. Photo by Luke Isley.

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.

Photo by Carol Pratt

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

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 Nutcracker Willam 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.

Ballet West Wor ki ng R e h earsal

Deborah F. Rutter President

The Nutcracker

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Season is presented with the support of Elizabeth and Michael Kojaian.

Choreography by Willam Christensen Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of the 2014-2015 Ballet Season.

Additional support for this Working Rehearsal is made possible by Kaplan, Inc.; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.

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

Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.

Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2014 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Christiana Bennett and Christopher Ruud in The Nutcracker.

Photo by Luke Isley.

Performance Guide

Photo by Luke Isley.

Cuesheet

The Nutcracker fights the Mouse King near the large Christmas tree.