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Nothing sounds on holidays like The Nutcracker ballet. Music is synonymous with the holiday season and the story is as popular as the “Night Before Christmas”. Not to mention that it is one of the most famous ballets of all time. This ballet has gained global recognition thanks to the hundreds of shows that take place every year around the world.

History

The story takes place on Christmas Eve, when a family celebrates the holidays and decorates their tree. Clara and Fritz’s cunning godfather presents the children with their Christmas presents. When the children fall asleep, the girl dreams that a nutcracker comes to life. The Nutcracker and Clara embark on an adventure and must fight the evil Rat King and his army of rodents. Subsequently, these two protagonists transform into a prince and a princess. This is a performance that intertwines artistry and storytelling, as it is a wonderful story made even better with music and dance.

Music and dance

The Nutcracker is a Russian play originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov in 1892 and composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. If you haven’t seen the ballet, you may be familiar with Tchaikovsky’s proven score. The ballet is made up of dance techniques from the Spanish, Arab and Chinese cultures. The Dance of the Confetto Fairy is also one of the most popular performances.

Space for imagination and interpretation

The plot of the ballet The Nutcracker is open to one’s imagination due to the lack of spoken lines. Some interpretations allude to the fact that it is a coming-of-age story. In the story, Clara is a young teenager but she still displays childlike qualities. When she receives the gift from her godfather, she quickly clings to the beautiful doll. During her dream, she shows her courage in saving the doll by throwing a shoe at the Rat King. Her dream then leads her to create a fantasy in which the Nutcracker transforms into a prince. From there she embarks on a magical journey which can be seen as romantic as the two travel to the Kingdom of Sweets. This magical dream symbolizes Clara’s transition from girl to young adult.

Above all, this is a story and a show for theater aficionados of all ages. Children can identify with the main characters and the magic of Christmas, while adults can appreciate Tchaikovsky’s historic soundtrack and fascinating dance and choreography numbers. Whether it’s your first time or your 100th time, this ballet is a show that requires numerous visualizations.

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