The Nutcracker

Student Matinee Classroom Guide

The Nutcracker
A classical ballet in two acts, based on E.T.A. Hoffmanns tale of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (1816) Synopsis-ACT I Herr Stahlbaum and his wife are giving a Christmas party and Clara and Fritz, their children, greet the guests. All the children are given toys by their parents. Suddenly the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer arrives and entertains the children with his magical tricks and wind-up dolls. Dr. Drosselmeyer brings a special gift for Clara, a wooden Nutcracker. In a jealous fit Fritz breaks it but Dr. Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the nutcracker. The party ends, the guests leave and the Stahlbaums retire for the night. Clara awakens as a mouse runs through her room. Then the clock strikes midnight as the room fills with giant mice and attack Clara. Led by her valiant Nutcracker lifesize toy soldiers come to her rescue. The King Rat attacks the Nutcracker but Clara hits him with her shoe and the Nutcracker wins the battle. Suddenly the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. The Nutcracker Prince transforms the mansion into a Land of Snow. The Snow Queen and the Nutcracker Prince dance with the Snowflakes as Clara and the Nutcracker Prince depart for the Kingdom of Sweets in a beautiful, enchanted sleigh. ACT II Clara and the Nutcracker Prince continue their journey arriving in the Kingdom of Sweets. The cooks are preparing delectable treats for their arrival as Clara and The Prince are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. In Claras honor the Sugar Plum Fairy arranges for the residents of her kingdom to entertain them while they eat by performing a Spanish Dance, an Arabian Dance and a Chinese Dance. Clara is also entertained by the Dance of Mirlitons, a dance with Madame Bonbonaire and her children, a Russian Dance and the Waltz of Flowers. Then the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince dance a grand Pas de Deux. As the celebration draws to a close Clara drifts off to sleep. She awakens in bed as the Nutcracker Prince salutes his princess.

Your First Trip To The Ballet

Most people who come to the ballet for the first time have a lot of questions. Here are a few answers. What should I wear to the ballet? You can wear whatever you would like to the ballet. Some like to dress up and make their visit to the theater a special occasion. How will I know where to sit? When you get to the theater, an usher will show you to your seats. If you are attending a student matinee, your school will have assigned seats. That seating chart will be available ahead of time. May I talk in the theater? You may talk quietly before the performance begins. During the performance, you must be quiet so everyone can hear the music. Plus, youll want to pay attention so you dont miss anything! When should I clap? A ballet audience claps at specific points in the performance: when the conductor comes out, when the Principal (or Lead) Dancers first appear onstage, and when a group of dancers finishes a variation (or dance). At the end of the performance, all the dancers will come out and take a bow. When this happens, you can really let them know how much you appreciate their dancing! How will I know when the ballet is going to start? The lights in the theater will dim, just like at the movies. This is an exciting moment, because now its time to concentrate on the performance.

Audience Etiquette
The following rules of etiquette should be discussed prior to the ballet program. Audience manners are very important, and must, like everything else, be learned and practiced.
Silence Is Golden You should be attentive and silent during the performance. The hum of voices can be distracting to performers and other audience members alike. Please Remain Seated At All Times You should stay in your seat and refrain from standing or kneeling in your seat during the performance. Follow Directions You should enter and exit the theater in an orderly manner. By paying attention to ushers and following directions, you will easily locate your seat. Listen And Watch Attentively The performance will be most beneficial to you if you have been prepared and are involved mentally and emotionally. Your physical activity should be kept low key and quiet. Respond Appropriately When the dancers have completed their performance and are taking their bows, it is appropriate to clap until they have left the stage or the curtain closes. If you really like the performance, feel free to clap as loudly as you like. The applause shows your respect for the hard work of the artists. Above all, treat the dancers in a respectful, courteous manner.

During The Show

Pay Attention To: The dancers lines: the dancers arms and legs form graceful parallel and perpendicular lines. The dancers feet: the dancers perform crisp, clean footwork, and the dancers toes are always pointed when they leave the ground. Pantomime: most ballets feature a series of pantomimes that help the audience understand the story. Height and Lightness: the men are able to leap into the air and make many rotations in mid-air. The women are able to perform the quick and detailed movements with their feet while their upper body remains fluid and light. Lights, Costumes and Sets: observe whether the lighting is bright and energetic or dark and mysterious, and pay attention to the costumes and sets for clues about the performance. Music: the music during the show changes moods and tempos, and helps the audience understand the story.

Ballet History
Dancing, like music, is one of mankinds oldest art forms. From tribal ceremonies and village gatherings to ballrooms and disco, dancing has always been a form of entertainment and celebration. Ballet uses music and movement to tell a story instead of words. A ballet dancers technique and special skills differ greatly from those of other dancers. Ballet dancers perform many movements that are unnatural for the body, but when these movements are done correctly, they look natural and beautiful. Early Ballets In Italy Ballets beginnings can be traced back in time 600 years. The first ballets were performed in Italy at the time of the Renaissance in the 1400s. The Italian dukes competed with one another in giving fancy, expensive parties and gatherings that included dance performances done by the other nobles. Catherine de Medici, a daughter of one of the Italian dukes, married the King of France and brought ballet to France with her. The first real ballet is thought to be one she produced in 1581 called Ballet Comique de la Reine. It lasted for five and a half hours! King Louis and the Royal Academy of Dance King Louis XIV (pictured left) loved ballet and was a great dancer himself. Eighty years after de Medici brought ballet to France, King Louise established the first dance academy. With serious training, the French professionals developed skills that had been impossible for amateurs. As a result of the school, French became the language of ballet and is still used today to describe the steps and the movements of ballet.

The Romantic Period During the 1800s, the Romantic Period influenced the entire European society with stories of escape from the real world into fantasy and exotic adventure. This led rise to the Romantic ballets, and stories filled with fairies, ghosts and the supernatural. During this time, ballerinas began dancing en pointe (on tiptoe) so they could appear light and fairy-like. In the late 1800s, the great French choreographer Marius Petipa traveled to Russia and choreographed one of the most beloved ballets, Swan Lake (pictured right). Ballets Russes In the 1900s, Russian companies such as Serge Diaghilevs Ballets Russes toured Western Europe and the U.S. and increased public interest in ballet. Famous choreographers like Mikhail Fokine and George Balanchine created many dances in this period. After the 1917 Russian Revolution, some of Russias finest dancers came to stay in the West and opened excellent ballet schools. Dancers from many western countries studied under these great Russian teachers. Many of these students later set up ballet companies in their own lands and established schools to train a new generation of dancers. Almost all contemporary ballet companies and dancers have been influenced by The Ballets Russes. Ballet Now Today most countries have at least one ballet company, and different styles of ballet have developed from all over the world. For example, the style that developed in the United States tends to be athletic, energetic and fast. Ballet in Russia is often forceful and showy; ballet in Denmark is full of very complicated footwork; ballet in France is generally fluid and decorative. As a result of the various styles, ballet is continually being broadened and enriched.

Ballet Terminology
Arabesque (ar-uh-BESK): one of the basic poses in ballet. The dancer stands on one foot with the other leg extended straight behind the body with the foot pointed, to create a long, flowing line from fingertips to toes. Barre (bahr): a wooden rail dancers use as a support during their warm-up exercises. Bourree (boo-RAY): small, quick, even steps, usually done on pointe, that give the impression of gliding across the floor. Choreographer: the person who has the idea for the ballet and then arranges the steps and patterns so that they make a whole work of art. Corps de Ballet (kor duh ba-LAY): dancers who appear in a large group or ensemble. En Pointe: to dance on the very tip of the specially constructed pointe shoe Jete (zhuh-TAY): a leap from one foot to the other. A grande jete is a bounding leap forward with the legs outstretched into a split. Pas de Deux (pah duh duh): a dance for two Pirouette (peer-oh-ET): a twirl or spin on one leg starting from two
feet. Pli (plee-AY): a bending of the knees; the basis of all ballet steps.

Principals: dancers in the leading roles of a ballet Spotting: a technique of keeping eyes on a fixed point when turning to avoid dizziness Tutu (TOO-too): costume worn by the ballerina made up of layers of gathered netting or other fabric

A Dancers Training
Ballet Training A ballet dancer can perform the difficult steps of ballet only after many years of training. The best age to begin ballet is about nine years old. Most dancers become professionals around nineteen or twenty, and retire by forty-five. Even professional ballet dancers practice daily to remain skilled and to stay in top physical shape. In addition to daily dance classes, they may also visit a gym two or three times a week. The men usually spend some time lifting weights to make sure they have sufficient strength to lift their partners. It is not unusual for young athletes to take dance. Many football coaches have their teams take ballet classes because ballet steps are physically challenging and also develop strength, flexibility and quickness. Other sports that are helped by ballet training are gymnastics, swimming, ice skating, and track. Ballet Technique Because classical ballet technique originally developed in France, French words are used in all parts of the world for the various steps and positions of ballet. The early French court dance steps have been handed down through centuries and form the basis of classical ballet today. Ballet dancers seem to ignore the law of gravity as they float through the air in long, slow leaps. They keep perfect balance while they spin like tops without becoming dizzy. The women dance on the tips of their toes, and the men lift them high overhead as if they were as light as feathers. The lines of the dancers bodies form beautiful, harmonious designs.

Fun Facts
A male dancer can lift over a ton of dancers in one performance! Most ballerinas use 2 to 3 pairs of pointe shoes for one performance.

One tutu can take over $2,000 and 100 yards of fabric to make.

The word ballet comes from the Italian word balleto, which means to dance.

Did You Know

There Are A Lot Of Jobs Surrounding Dance!
The artistic director decides what shows to put on and casts the roles. The ballet master or mistress runs rehearsals and supervises the corps de ballet. The dance teacher runs daily classes and gives individual coaching. The physiotherapist treats dancers injuries. The choreographer creates the dance part of a ballet and helps decide on costumes and scenery. The wardrobe master or mistress looks after and takes care of the costumes. The technical director or stage manager coordinates the lighting staff, music, dancers, and stage crew. The stage crew is responsible for the electrics, such as wiring and special effects, as well as the props. The marketing officers create posters, leaflets, and programs advertising the ballets. The general manager arranges tours, salaries, and general business matters.

Dancers Have A Different View From The Stage

A ballet looks completely different to the dancers on the stage than it does to the audience. A dancer can see into the wings (the spaces at the sides of the stage where the audience cant see). Also, a dancer has many bright lights shining on him or her, making it so that the dancer cant see the audience, and also making it very hot onstage.

All About The Nutcracker!

The Nutcracker is based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Maybe your library has a copy of the book! Texas Ballet Theaters The Nutcracker will be performed in two different theaters: Bass Performance Hall and the AT&T Performing Arts Winspear Opera House. It takes a crew of 30 stagehands and 10 wardrobe/dressers to put on each performance. They work just as hard as the dancers! Our Christmas tree grows to 40 feet. Thats over three stories tall! More than 90 local children will appear in the run of The Nutcracker. Over 200 costumes are used in Texas Ballet Theaters The Nutcracker. Thats 10 miles of thread! 17 loads of laundry are done after every show! Over 300 pounds of snow are used during the run, made from a combination of plastic and flame retardant inch paper squares. The Nutcracker uses 398,300 watts of electricity during each performance.

Dance In The Classroom

Here are some fun movement exercises and activities to try in your own classroom after the ballet! Form two or more teams for a game of charades. Act out who or what you are through movement, and see if your classmates can guess! Draw a line in chalk on the ground, or use a piece of masking tape to make a line. Walk along the line without stepping off of it. Try walking slowly, and then try a little faster. Which way is easier? With a partner, stand face to face and mirror each others movements for sixty seconds. How many times can you spin around without getting dizzy and falling down? Heres a hint Dancers keep their balance by focusing on one point in front of them as they turn. This is called spotting. Does spotting help you spin without getting dizzy? Have everyone in the class write down a feeling or emotion on a piece of paper, and then fold the paper and place it in a box. Each student will select a piece of paper and act out with movement what the feeling is. The other students try to guess what the student is expressing through his/her movements.

What Did You Think?

What did you think of the ballet? Here are a few ways to really share how you felt during and after the performance. Be a critic. After you see the ballet, write a review of what you saw. Describe the performance so that those not in attendance can imagine the performance. Discuss the parts you liked best. Tell the reader why they should or should not go to the ballet. Be an artist. Draw a picture of your favorite scene from the ballet. Think about costumes, scenery and the dancers expressions. Be a choreographer. Imagine your own ballet. Write down the details. List what music should go with it. Draw pictures of the scenery and sketch the costumes. Youre in charge!

Do The Math!
Dance studios and theaters are the workplace for the dancers, teachers, students, ballet masters, choreographers, and artistic directors. Before the curtain rises for a performance, hundreds of preparations must take place. The costumes have to be designed, constructed, altered and laundered. Sets must be designed, built and painted. Programs must be written and printed. Pointe shoes have to be ordered, sometimes nine months in advance (because they are handmade in England, Germany, Australia, Japan or New York City), and then distributed to the female dancers. As many as 1,500 pairs per year are ordered for the company. We need your help with some of our preparations! Texas Ballet Theater has ordered 1,500 pairs of pointe shoes for the season. The season, or work weeks of a professional dancer, lasts 30 weeks. The pointe shoes must be ordered up to nine months in advance. One pair of pointe shoes costs $60.00, and each female dancer receives 2 pairs of pointe shoes a week. If there are 20 professional female dancers, how much money has to be budgeted for pointe shoes in one season?

Find The Ballet Terms

Find the following ballet terms in the word search.
ARABESQUE CHOREOGRAPHER JETE PLIE BARRE CORPS DE BALLET PAS DE DEUX PRINCIPALS TUTU BOURREE EN POINTE PIROUETTE SPOTTING

D T P L I X E K J E J E S U Q

B E E V N T T Q Z U R I Z G Q

L L S I E W T U Z Q V E N X R

R L S W N D E D H S T H X E B

Z A P Z P H U X M E C N H N U

X B R M O A O O J B A P U Y W

O E I Z I T R D W A A N P Y B

S D N Q N B I Z A R Z A C O Z

A S C J T W P M G A S M U M Z

I P I L E O I O B D B R Q E A

O R P U Z I E A E W R A V Y Q

N O A B S R N D C E W U R N C

G C L L O Q E U E Z S T C R L

G M S H M U Y S M M M U O W E

M M C R X K C G N I T T O P S