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Study Guide
Nutcracker Suite
Presented by Ballet Palm Beach
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 10:30 AM
Show lasts approximately 60 minutes
Geared for Grades 3 – 12
presented at
Eissey Campus Theatre
Palm Beach State College
11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens
561-207-5900
Ballet Palm Beach will perform a student friendly one hour version of the much loved favorite,
The Nutcracker, with music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet,
originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (op.
71). The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. It was
given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on Sunday, December 18, 1892.
Ballet Palm Beach
Study Guide
December 2, 2015
The Story of the Nutcracker
I. The Party Scene
It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house -- A large and grand house with the most beautiful
tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the
arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they
welcome their friends too.
The party grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a skilled
clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as
he presents two life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.
The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz. Although
his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the
party. Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the
nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer
quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening.
Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling
asleep with him in her arms.
II. The Fight Scene
As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her
beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her. The toys around the tree come to life while the
room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he
leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker
and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.
The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King.
Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on
the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's
lifeless body.
II. The Land of Snow (this scene will not be performed during the school show)
The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an
enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
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Ballet Palm Beach
Study Guide
December 2, 2015
III. The Land of Sweets
The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with
a celebration of dances.
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The Spanish Dance
The Arabian Dance
The Russian Dance
The Chinese Dance
The Mirliton Dance
The Waltz of Flowers
As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux (this will not be
performed during the school show)
IV.The Dream Ends
Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved
Nutcracker.
THE COMPANY:
BALLET PALM BEACH
Ballet Palm Beach is a not-for-profit ballet company committed to preserving the art of classical
ballet, enriching our community through the beauty of ballet, and impacting young lives
through the discipline of dance. Artistic Director Colleen Smith founded Ballet Palm Beach (then
known as Florida Classical Ballet Theatre) in 2001 to give dance students in northern Palm
Beach County the opportunity to perform in full-length classical ballet productions. In its first
year, Ballet Palm Beach performed only one production, The Nutcracker, to enthusiastic
audience response. Since its first season, Ballet Palm Beach has grown to become a fixture in
the arts and culture community, presenting four full-length productions each year and
employing Resident Artists featured in each show.
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Ballet Palm Beach
Study Guide
December 2, 2015
PRE-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSIONS:
1.
Prior to attending the performance, students should discuss audience etiquette.
Common etiquette rules include:
a) Turning off cellphones or electronic devices
b) No video or other recordings are allowed inside the theatre
c) No food or drink is allowed in the theatre
d) Audience members should remain seated and should not leave or enter the
auditorium during the performance
e) There is no talking during the performance
f) Clapping should be polite and appropriate
Discuss why these rules exist. Consider a short role-playing exercise during which
students can experience what it is like if an audience is disruptive during class time.
2.
Through discussion or written response, reflect on the following:
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What are some plays or live theatre productions you have seen?
Have you seen ballet performed before?
How is a story told through dance?
What is a ballet? What makes it different from other dancing?
Compare and contrast: How is telling a story through ballet the same/different
from a live theatre play? A movie in a theatre? A television show at home? A
book? Which do you prefer? Why?
Who decides how the dancers tell the story?
How do the dancers learn their parts?
3.
Through discussion or written response, reflect on the following:
 Are you familiar with the literature that these dances are based upon?
 Have you seen a play or other artistic presentation based on these books?
 What is your favorite book and how would you present it as a dance?
4.
In a ballet performance there are typically no words spoken on the stage. The dancers
must tell the audience the story using only their body movements and gestures, which
they execute to the accompaniment of music. Often mime is used to relay specific
elements of the story.
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Ballet Palm Beach
Study Guide
December 2, 2015
Divide students into groups of two or more. Using the gestures, students can create
their own stories using mime and perform them for the rest of the class. Can the
audience follow the story?
5.
Introduce the class to a small sample of commonly seen ballet steps. Familiarity with
basic ballet technique will provide students reference points to help students enjoy the
performance.
Pas de deux: A dance for two dancers, usually one female and one male
Bourrées: Tiny rapid steps performed by female dancers while on pointe, giving
the illusion of floating above the ground
Arabesque: One leg is stretched behind the body either on the ground or in the
air at a 90-degree angle or higher.
Sauté: A jump from two feet to two feet. When a turn is added to the jump the
step is called a Tour en l’air. The dancer can make 1, 2 or 3 revolutions in the air
before landing.
POST-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSIONS:
1.
But ballet is just for girls….
Ballet can be enjoyed by boys, girls, men and women. It is very hard work and
requires great athletic ability, coordination and strength. Many dancers perform
a 2 ½ hour ballet with only a few short breaks.
Are you able to lift a person above your head and have it appear effortless? Are
you able to perform several gravity-defying leaps?
Compare and contrast qualities of professional dancers to those of professional
athletes. Make a list of qualities that are similar between a ballet dancer and any
of the following types of athletes: football player, hockey player, basketball
player, figure skater.
2.
Write a response to Nutcracker Suite commenting on various elements in the ballet (e.g.
the dancers, music, costumes, and special effects)
 What did you like and dislike about the performance?
 How does the ballet compare to what you had pictured before the performance?
 How was it different or similar to other ballets or shows you have seen?
 How did the choreographer use dance to show emotions or tell the story?
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Ballet Palm Beach
Study Guide
December 2, 2015
3.
Define overture and listen to the overture to the Nutcracker. Ask the students what mood
they think this piece of music will have (happy, sad, etc.). Listen and then discuss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF2fn8FDqEQ
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES:
1.
Ballets tell stories using music and movement. Create original movements to
correspond with emotions and themes that you might find in a piece of literature (ie.
love, friendship, loyalty, jealousy, anger, playfulness)
2.
3.
March of the Toys: Have the students dance pretending to their favorite toy.
4.
Construct ballerina snowflakes. http://krokotak.com/2012/11/snowflake-ballerinas-forlittle-hands/
Arabian Dance (coffee) and Chinese Dance (tea): Listen and then compare the
differences between the two pieces. Have students fold a piece of paper in half. Have
them draw what they feel while listening to the Arabian Dance on one side. On the
other half of the paper have them draw what they feel while listening to the Chinese
Dance. Compare and contrast the drawings.
Arabian Dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_lipLgLPkY
Chinese Dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiyx1m44nMM
INTERNET LINKS:
A 5 minute synopsis of the Nutcracker Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEdNd2mTVWQ
Ballet Palm Beach
www.balletpalmbeach.org
Ballet terms defined
http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.html
Anaheim Ballet shows you how to stretch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8D7R8QxJL4&feature=share&list=PL22EC1314013611CC&
index=4
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