| For many, going to the see the ballet, The Nutcracker, | | | | the best dancing takes place near the end of the ballet |
| is a holiday tradition. I realize that some in our audience | | | | when the characters visit the Land of the Sugar Plum |
| have never been to a ballet before. Here are some | | | | Fairy. While there, dancers from all over the world |
| fast facts about The Nutcracker that will help you | | | | entertain Clara and company. This showcase of |
| enjoy the ballet as well as impress your friends with | | | | dance has made this moment a fan favorite |
| your knowledge of trivia. | | | | The First Production Had Problems: The ballet featured |
| There's a Curse: The Nutcracker Prince finds himself | | | | two choreographers. Lev Ivanov started the work and |
| imprisoned in a little doll. When a beautiful young girl falls | | | | later Marius Petipa was brought in to finish it. Peter |
| in love with him, then the spell will be broken. | | | | Tchaikovsky created the score but thought the ballet |
| There's Magic: Drosselmeyer is both a magician and a | | | | was a failure. Audiences agreed and the production |
| maker of toys. He presents the Nutcracker doll to | | | | was called a flop. |
| Clara. | | | | From a Flop to a Hit: Despite the disappointing debut, |
| It's Old: The Nutcracker was first performed in Saint | | | | The Nutcracker continued to be performed and it |
| Petersburg, Russia on December 19, 1892. | | | | eventually reached Europe in 1934 and American |
| Listen Carefully: Tchaikovsky used the production of | | | | shores in 1944. A decade later, George Balanchine |
| The Nutcracker to introduce a new instrument to | | | | brought his interpretation of the production to the New |
| audiences: the celesta. He had heard the instrument in | | | | York City Ballet. There it became a holiday favorite |
| France and wanted to be the first bring its distinctive | | | | which helped inspire other productions around the |
| and new sound to a production score. This piano | | | | world. Today, there are countless presentations of The |
| cousin puts out a high octave sound that makes the | | | | Nutcracker, which range from the traditional to |
| dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum sound unique. | | | | extremely modern interpretations. |
| The Sugar Plum Fairy Throws a Good Party: Some of | | | | |