How the Nutcracker became a timeless favorite

This year marks the 130 anniversary of The Nutcracker Ballet, first premiered at the Imperial Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia on December 18, 1892. It traveled across Europe over the following 50 years and appeared in the US in 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet. Today it is performed in dozens of countries and in thousands of theaters around the world. The ballet by Petipa and its music by Tchaikovsky are now timeless holiday favorites performed and enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures.

But how did the Nutcracker become a timeless favorite?

THE MUSIC

The concert suite of The Nutcracker was composed by Tchaikovsky before the ballet was created. Every time the music was played for an audience they would encore. The music was loved long before the ballet was ever performed. For the ballet, Tchaikovsky would join forces with Marius Petipa, whom he partnered with to create the ballet "Sleeping Beauty". The two worked closely together to create the music for the ballet. Today the music has been arranged countless times and is heard during the holidays in homes, stores, schools, and of course, the ballet studios around the world.

Although the music in the first act of the Nutcracker helps tell the story, it's the music in Act 2, the Nutcracker Suite, that people know best. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Russian Trepak, and Waltz of the Flowers to name a few.

THE STORY

The story of the Nutcracker is loosely based on E.T.A. Hoffman's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King".

Act 1 takes place on Christmas Eve in the Stahlbaum home with Clara, Fritz and family and friends, including their uncle Drosselmeyer who is a magician and toymaker. He brings dolls and toys to life, including a special Nutcracker for Clara. After the guests leave, Clara falls asleep with her new toy and awakens to find herself in the midst of a battle between the toy soldiers, dolls, mice and their King. Clara helps the Nutcracker defeat the Mouse King only to discover that the Nutcracker has turned into a handsome prince. The Nutcracker prince leads Clara through the snowy forest, the heavenly clouds, and to the land of the sweets.

Act 2 - The Nutcracker introduces Clara to the Sugar Plum Fairy. He shares how he was saved from the Mouse King by Clara and transformed back into himself. The Sugar Plum Fairy requests a celebration of sweets from around the world in her honor; chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and candy canes from Russia. Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes and Mother Ginger has her little gingersnaps emerge from under her enormous hoop skirt to dance. In conclusion, a final waltz is performed by the flowers, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy dances leads Clara and the Prince to a sleigh and they wave goodbye to all.

THE HOLIDAY TRADITION

Because the story of The Nutcracker takes place on Christmas Eve, ballet companies around the world present it from late November to the end of December. Attending the ballet, and listening to its music, has become a family tradition for hundreds of thousands. The characters from the Nutcracker have now become standard holiday decorations and gifts. In many homes you will see Nutcrackers on the mantle or Sugar Plum Fairy ornaments on the tree. In stores around the globe you will see Nutcracker themed windows and displays. The Toy Soldiers, the Snow Queen, the Rat King and the Nutcracker have now all become iconic holiday characters.

Along with the characters, the Nutcracker music is played in holiday albums of all genres of music; country, folk, pop, rock, classical and contemporary. No matter what time of year, as soon as you hear music from the Nutcracker you feel the holiday spirit. And who doesn't automatically think of the holidays when they hear that iconic song, with the unique celesta instrument, of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

THE CHILDREN

For thousands and thousands of children, The Nutcracker is the first time they are exposed to ballet and classical music. And for many dancers, the Nutcracker is the first ballet they ever perform in. Most professional amateur ballet companies incorporate local children in their Nutcracker to dance alongside advanced and adult performers. Then these children return year after year to perform in different characters. They may begin as Snowflakes or Gingersnaps and they progress to mice, soldiers, party children and more. For many ballerinas they will perform in multiple roles year after year. For many ballerina's it is a lifelong goal to be Clara or Sugar Plum in the Nutcracker. And at the end of childhood, they all look back fondly at the memories made from performing in The Nutcracker.

THE TEA PARTIES

Many professional companies and ballet conservatories hold a pre-show Sugar Plum Tea Party full of sweets and dancing. This is often a young child's first introduction to the characters and music of the Nutcracker. Children and their adult guests dress up, enjoy a tea luncheon, learn the story, and see a shortened version of the Nutcracker. Children's eyes light up when they get to dance on stage with Clara and all the other characters of the show. It is a great way for a child under the age of 7 to experience the magic of the Nutcracker. We hold our annual Sugar Plum Tea Party the second Sunday of November every year to hundreds of delighted kids.

THE SHOW

The Nutcracker Ballet has been adapted multiple times. Some shows have giant rats, while other shows have little mice. Some Nutcrackers have a heaven scene or a Land of the Sweets stairway, while others have changed the plot line entirely. Riverside Ballet produces a "Nutty Nut" and there is even a national tour of "The Hip Hop Nutcracker". It's been produced into 13 movies and 14 television versions, in the US alone. The Nutcracker has been animated and also done as an ice skating show. The Radio City Rockettes even incorporated the Nutcracker Suite into their 88 year old show "The Christmas Spectacular". The story, the music and the ballet all hold true for countless forms of entertainment. And the show never grows tired or overdone. How is that?

Tchaikovsky was a brilliant composer on many, many levels, one of the greatest masters of instrumental color and orchestration. His melodies aren't just pretty, they are immortal. The story is one of holiday traditions, tremendous kindness and bravery, and celebration of the many cultures, ages, and artists. The dancing, music and storytelling come together to capture the magic of the holidays. It's a tradition that has lasted for 130 years and will continue for hundreds of years to come!

Join us for our Nutcracker performances this December and enjoy the timeless tradition that makes the holidays so special.