The Nutcracker
HOW TO BE A GOOD AUDIENCE A good audience o Does not talk aloud or annoy others o Does not bring food into the theatre o Does not run in the lobby o Does not throw objects or fidget with things o Does not lie down; lean on neighbors, or sleep o Does not leave trash in the theatre o Turns off their cell phone o Applauds when the dancers take a bow
Did you know. Marius Petipa from Marseilles, France choreographed the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker was originally based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written by German author E.T.A. Hoffman. Years later, Alexander Dumas rewrote the story and Peter Tchaikovsky was asked to write the music in 1891. The Nutcracker is a ballet set in German on Christmas Eve of 1835. Drosselmeyer has made a special nutcracker doll for his goddaughter, Clara. After the Christmas Eve party, Clara falls asleep on the couch. Uncle Drosselmeyer s magic begins. The walls of the house begin to change The Nutcracker grows into a Prince that fights the Mouse King. During the battle, Clara throws her shoe at the Mouse King which allows the Nutcracker Prince time to slay the evil Mouse King. Uncle Drosselmeyer then transforms the Nutcracker prince into a handsome cavalier. The charming cavalier then takes Clara through the Land of Snow on a fantastic journey to the Kingdom of Sweets. Clara is then honored for her act of courage by performances of special dances. Research and mark with an X which continent Germany is located. Research and mark with a where France is located
How many words can you makes from the words The Nutcracker Answer This. 1. Who was the original choreographer of The Nutcracker? 2. Who is the composer of The Nutcracker? 3. On what book is The Nutcracker based? 4. Who is the author of the book? 5. On what holiday does the story of The Nutcracker happen?
The Nutcracker Maze The Nutcracker doll is locked in combat with the fearsome King Rat. Help Clara find her way across the floor to help her friend, avoiding all the other rats as you go!
WRITE ABOUT IT. How do you prepare to be a professional dancer? What is a person that makes up a dance Male dancers must be very strong to leap, jump and lift ballerinas. Research the muscles a male dancer must develop. called? Write a report about a famous ballet dancer. Begin your search with the February 13, 1995 issue of Time Magazine (page 72). When dancers stop dancing they must take up a new career. Many become teachers, choreographers, or directors. What is a choreographer? What famous painter and sculptor enjoyed watching dancers in Paris? Search the internet and find famous male athletes that takes or has taken ballet. He created La Petite Daneuse ( The Little Dancer ) Out of Bronze
Dance Z Y Z S S W N P N L P T C X V E Z G P T O A O M E H N H B P N O A O I N I R R U Q E O U M M C A T L T E F M N J M R M L E R C E A O O M R U Q N E O A B A B V R R N T E R P G O V N U B E R M F T H N L Z I G E O Y L S A K L H E C P E L R M S E B N E L Y T S C E Z A A E R S C I M A N Y D B H T A P N E E N A R R A T I V E N X H T P N O I T C E J O R P G I Y O L B M N U M Y E H G I I A Q A N J Z A U W R M A G I I L Z U N V X R N L E V E L S U G C D E ACTION ALIGNMENT AXIAL CHOREOGRAPHY DYNAMICS ELEMENTS ELEVATION JUMP LEVELS MOVEMENT NARRATIVE PERFORMANCE PERSONAL PROJECTION RUN SPACE STYLE TECHNIQUE TECHNOLOGY WARMUP
Can you? You will notice that ballet dancers do not speak. They often use body talk or mime to act out the story. Act out a scene from Nutcracker with a friend. See if your class can read your body talk. Can you remember Name the different characters/sweets from the second act. What props were on the stage? What was your favorite dance in the Land of the Sweets?
Fairy Tales Using the Venn Diagram below to compare and contrast The Nutcracker with another folk tale or story. Use the diagram to help you write a paragraph about The Nutcracker and the other story your chose.
The Nutcracker: Act I: The Adventure Begins Fill in the blanks with the words from the Word Bank below. Clara s begin to shake and she wakes up to find that the Christmas tree has come to life and the has grown. Other toys have come to life an group of mice enter the room. The horrible challenges the Nutcracker to fight, but Clara saves the Nutcracker by conquering the Mouse King with her. The Nutcracker is transformed into a who takes Clara on a fantastic where they encounter the snowflakes and the with whom she dances. A beautiful carries Clara and the Nutcracker to see the in the Land of the Sweets. Word Bank
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Consider the Dance of the Snowflakes scene in The Nutcracker. What animals might you find living in this kind of habitat? What else would you likely find living in this habitat (plants, trees, insects, etc)? Write your ideas below, and draw a picture.
Color the characters from the Nutcracker.
Post Performance Discussion Questions 1. What was your favorite part of the ballet? (For example: the music, the costumes, the scenery, the movement) 2. Was it hard to follow the story without using words? 3. Do you think it is hard to dance on the tips of your toes? 4. Did you like the ballet? 5. Would you like to see another ballet in the future? 6. Pick any character. What emotions did you see in that character? 7. Do you think that ballet is an athletic activity similar to football or gymnastics? Why or why not? 8. What did you feel when you were watching the ballet?
After watching The Bristol Ballet s performance of The Nutcracker and using the workbook, please take a moment to fill out this evaluation form. Your answers will assist us in planning future programs and meeting the needs of your students. Name of school and system Are you a student or teacher? If a teacher: Grade Level Subject area taught: Rate the following on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. 1. The ballet was a positive experience for you 1 2 3 4 5 2. I used/did the activities from the workbook 1 2 3 4 5 3. The activities in the study guide were helpful in preparing for the performance 1 2 3 4 5 4. I would attend this or another Bristol Ballet performance 1 2 3 4 5 5. Which activity did you or your students enjoy the most? 6. Did your or your student s impression/opinion of ballet change after this sequence? 7. Is there anything you would like to see added or changed? 8. Additional comments or suggestions?