What’s the story behind the Nutcracker?

The Nutcracker, Russian Shchelkunchik, ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. … The story of The Nutcracker is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King.

What does The Nutcracker symbolize?

The legend says that a nutcracker represents power and strength and serves like a trusty watch dog guarding your family from evil spirits and danger. … A fierce protector, the nutcracker bares its teeth to the evil spirits and serves as the traditional messenger of good luck and goodwill.

What is the main idea of The Nutcracker? More than any other ballet, The Nutcracker is about children and the magic of childhood. The story is about a child, and many of the dancers in the ballet are also children. For many young Americans, The Nutcracker is their first experience of a professional dance performance.

Why is The Nutcracker a Christmas thing?

These regal little soldiers are nutcrackers, and they’ve become an iconic symbol of the Christmas season. According to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to families and protect the home. The carving of nutcrackers developed as a cottage industry in rural Germany.

Is The Nutcracker a German story?

A German-French-Russian-American story Hoffmann in 1816, titled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. It was adapted by French writer Alexandre Dumas in 1844.

What does a Nutcracker hold in his hand?

Nuts were historically opened using a hammer and anvil, often made of stone. Some nuts such as walnuts can also be opened by hand, by holding the nut in the palm of the hand and applying pressure with the other palm or thumb, or using another nut.

Who are the characters in The Nutcracker?

  • Clara. A young girl. …
  • Sugarplum Fairy. A beautiful fairy who resembles Clara’s sister Louise.
  • The Nutcracker. Clara’s toy that comes to life. …
  • Uncle Drosselmeyer. Clara’s mystical Uncle. …
  • The Mouse King. The mischievous King of the Mice. …
  • Cavalier. The handsome partner of the Sugarplum Fairy.

What did Tchaikovsky think of The Nutcracker?

FAITH LAPIDUS: Tchaikovsky did not much like the ballet or story of “The Nutcracker.” He reportedly wrote to a friend that the music he was writing was far worse than the music for his earlier ballet, “The Sleeping Beauty.” Many of the people watching “The Nutcracker” that night did not like the ballet either and …

What is the hardest role in The Nutcracker?

Aurora is basically one of the hardest roles I’ve ever danced. Physically, it’s one of the toughest.

Who is Clara in The Nutcracker?

Clara is the eldest child of Mr and Mrs Stahlbaum. She is delighted with the shiny wooden Nutcracker doll that her godfather has given her on Christmas Eve. However, once night time falls she finds herself in the middle of an adventure! Saving her doll from the evil Mouse King, Clara then travels to magical new lands.

How Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker became a holiday tradition?

The San Francisco ballet performed “The Nutcracker” on Christmas Eve of 1944. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that performances of the complete “Nutcracker” ballet really took off as an annual Christmas tradition around the country. … Tchaikovsky had made a concert suite from the ballet music.

What is a Nutcracker soldier?

Christmas Nutcracker soldiers are decorative nutcracker statues most commonly made to resemble a toy soldier. It was said that in German tradition, the dolls are symbols of good luck, frightening away malevolent spirits and protecting your home. … The Nutcracker soldier originates from late-17th century Germany.

Is The Nutcracker a Christmas ballet?

The origin of the Nutcracker, a classic Christmas Story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a family’s Christmas Eve celebration. Alexandre Dumas Père’s adaptation of the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann was set to music by Tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by Marius Petipa.

Does Clara fall in love with Nutcracker?

Clara has a loving relationship with the Nutcracker since she first received him as a gift and immediately fell in love with him, despite being saddened by the story that Drosselmeyer told her about how his nephew Hans was cursed to become the same nutcracker that he gave her.

Does Clara marry the Nutcracker?

She accepts, and in a year and a day he comes for her and takes her away to the doll kingdom, where she marries him and is crowned queen.

How old is Clara in the Nutcracker?

It’s sometimes danced by a girl close to the character’s age, which is around 12 years old. In this scenario, “Clara’s role is of a girl on the cusp,” explains Jennifer Fisher, author of the book Nutcracker Nation. “She’s dedicated [to protecting the Nutcracker] but still youthful and enthusiastic.

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