The Nutcracker Student Matinee Guide

8/3/2019 The Nutcracker Student Matinee Guide

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TheNutcracker

Student Matinee Classroom Guide


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TheNutcracker

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 life-

size 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 herchildren, 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.


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Your First Trip To The BalletMost 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?

Aballet audience claps atspecific points in the

performance: when the

conductor comes out, when

thePrincipal (or Lead) Dancers

first appear onstage, and whena 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.


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Audience EtiquetteThe following rules of etiquette should be discussed prior to theballet 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 ofvoices can be distracting to performers and other audience members alike.

Please Remain Seated At All TimesYou should stay in your seat and refrain from standing or kneeling in yourseat during the performance.

Follow Directions

You should enter and exit the theater in an orderly manner. By payingattention 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 andare 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 theirbows, 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.


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During The ShowPay 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 airand 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 moodsand tempos, and

helps the audience understand

the story.


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Ballet HistoryDancing, like music, is one of mankinds oldest art forms. From tribalceremonies 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 fiveand 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 impossiblefor 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.


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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 andopened 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.


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BalletTerminologyArabesque (ar-uh-BESK): one of the basic poses in ballet. The dancer stands onone 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


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A Dancers TrainingBallet TrainingA ballet dancer can perform the difficult steps of ballet only after manyyears 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 timelifting 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, Frenchwords 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 liftthem high overhead as if they were as light as feathers. The lines of the dancers

bodies form beautiful, harmonious designs.


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Fun Facts

A male dancer can lift over

a ton of dancers in one

performance!

Most ballerinas use 2

to 3 pairs of pointeshoes for one

performance.

One tutu can take

over $2,000 and

100 yards of fabricto make.

The word ballet comes

from the Italian word

balleto, which means to

dance.


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Did You KnowThere Are A Lot Of Jobs Surrounding Dance!

The artistic director decides what shows to put on and casts theroles.

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.

Thewardrobe 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 crewis 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 manybright lights shining on him or her, making it so that the dancer cant see

the audience, and also making it very hot onstage.


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All About The Nutcracker! The Nutcrackeris based on the storyThe

Nutcracker and the Mouse Kingwritten by E.T.A.

Hoffman. Maybe your library has a copy of the

book!

Texas Ballet TheatersThe Nutcrackerwill beperformed in two different theaters: Bass

Performance Hall and the AT&T

Performing Arts Winspear Opera House.

It takes a crew of30 stagehands and 10wardrobe/dressers to put on each performance.They work just as hard as the dancers!

Our Christmas tree grows to 40 feet. Thats overthree stories tall!

More than 90 local children will appear in therun ofThe Nutcracker.

Over 200 costumes are usedin Texas Ballet Theaters

The Nutcracker. Thats10 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 Nutcrackeruses 398,300watts of electricityduring each performance.


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Dance In The Classroom

Here are some fun movement exercises and activities to try in yourown 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

ofit. Try walking slowly, and then try a little faster. Which wayis 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.


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What Did You Think?What didyou think of the ballet? Here are a few ways to really share

how you felt during and after theperformance.

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 ownballet. Write down the details. List what

music should go with it. Draw pictures of

the scenery and sketch the costumes.

Youre in charge!


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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?


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Find The Ballet TermsFind the following ballet terms in the word search.

ARABESQUE BARRE BOURREE

CHOREOGRAPHER CORPS DE BALLET EN POINTE

JETE PAS DE DEUX PIROUETTE

PLIE PRINCIPALS SPOTTING

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Documents

The Nutcracker Student Matinee Guide