The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition for many, and there are several Nutcracker performances this year to attend. The largest ballet companies in town each have performances this December. State Street Ballet dances at the Granada every year, and their shows include a cast of professionals in the company as well as younger dancers training in their school. Festival Ballet also performs The Nutcracker each year at the Arlington Theatre, with this year being their 50th anniversary.
Junior Everly Rohde loves the tradition of The Nutcracker, saying, “I’m so excited to see The Nutcracker because it’s so magical and is a staple of my holiday season.”
The Nutcracker follows Clara, the young protagonist. At her family Christmas party, Clara receives a toy nutcracker from her eccentric uncle Herr Drosslemeir, and immediately falls in love with it. Her young brother, Fritz, becomes jealous and breaks the nutcracker. Distraught, Clara wakes up in the night and sneaks out to the living room, where she discovers that the Christmas tree has begun to magically grow. As the clock strikes midnight, a squad of mice fill the room and are fought by toy soldiers in the dramatic battle scene. Eventually, the mice are defeated by the Nutcracker, who has recovered and grown into a life-size prince. The Nutcracker prince leads a delighted yet confused Clara into the fantastical realm of the Magical Forest, where the ethereal Waltz of the Snowflakes takes place, and on into the Land of Sweets. In Act II, Clara and the Nutcracker arrive in the land of sweets and are greeted with dancers from around the world. Dances like the Candy Canes, Waltz of the Flowers, Arabian Coffee, and Chinese Tea are classic performances in this act. The show ends with a pas de deux, or duet, from the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, with the final scene leaving Clara waking up in the morning, wondering if her adventure was all but a dream.
The ballet was scored by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and has been reimagined by many a choreographer over the years. While not the original choreographers, George Balanchine and Mikhail Baryshnikov popularized the ballet in the United States with their versions for the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, respectively. Since the premier of The Nutcracker in 1892, the ballet has evolved to fit individual companies. Nevertheless, the heart and tradition of this holiday classic has remained the same.
The whimsical story is brought to life by talented local dancers, from both professional companies and ballet schools. Sophomore Penelope Welsh is excited to be dancing in State Street Ballet’s Nutcracker this season. “Nutcracker season is the most magical time of the year,” she says, “Being back on stage at the Granada theater always makes me feel like Christmas has arrived in full swing. From the dress rehearsals to the gingerbread house competitions backstage, The Nutcracker ballet provides abundant entertainment and Christmas spirit!”
Catch The Nutcracker at the Arlington Theater from December 13-14, or at the Granada between December 19-21. If going to a theater to watch in person is not an accessible option, there are free videos of famous nutcrackers that can be found online. It is a magical show and perfect for any age!
