The Nutcracker is ‘Ritzy’
![Nutcracker06[1]](http://knightdale.highschoolmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Nutcracker0611-300x271.jpg "Nutcracker06[1]")
Courtesy of: http://146.74.224.231/archives/Nutcracker06%5B1%5D.jpg
by Natalie Seibel & Joel Potter
The Nutcracker, a holiday staple, is currently playing at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. The ballet, familiar to most of us during the holiday season, is a story about a young girl named Clara and her favorite Christmas. At an annual family Christmas party, Clara receives a beautiful Nutcracker doll from her Godfather, Drosselmeyer. After her family sends her to bed, Clara sneaks downstairs to play with her cherished new gift some more. Eventually, she falls asleep and with a little help from Drosselmeyer’s magic, her dream begins.
The Mice and the Mouse King arrive with intent to kidnap Clara and take her to their kingdom. Searching helplessly for her Nutcracker, the whole room suddenly grows out of proportion. Soldiers finally appear with the Nutcracker close behind to save her.
The battle erupts and almost ends with the Nutcracker defeated, when Clara throws her slipper, causing the Mouse King tostumble and lose the fight. Then appearing straight out of her fantasy, comes Clara’s Nutcracker Prince to take her to his special land. Along the enchanting journey, they meet Snowflakes, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Russian dancers.
Although Clara doesn’t want to leave her prince, she awakens on Christmas day to find only her Nutcracker doll and the magical memories left.
The Nutcracker Ballet is over one hundred years old. Appointed by Marius Petipa, a Russian choreographer, Peter Tchaikovsky composed a ballet based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s tale, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” It was first presented on December 17th, 1892 at Mayinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia where it failed the expectations of both the audience and the critics. Over time, however, the productions became more popular.
In 1944 the San Francisco Ballet Company became the first to perform The Nutcracker in the United States. Ten years later, master choreographer, George Balanchine recreated the original version that he danced in as a child in Russia, for the New York City Ballet. Most productions we see today are based off of Balanchine’s version.
It has taken much hard work and more than a century to see the traditional Nutcracker ballet as it is today. Enjoy this show with the whole family to get you in the mood for the holiday season.
