The Nutcracker and ballet basics
The story, the music you already know, and how to watch ballet like you've done it before.
Listen with headphones. When it asks a question, answer out loud before it tells you.
Key facts · Part 1 Essentials
- Clara, the young heroine
- Drosselmeyer, the mysterious godfather with the gifts
- The Mouse King, the villain who fights the toy soldiers
- The Sugar Plum Fairy, who dances to the celesta's tiny bells
- Mother Ginger, the giant skirt with children underneath
- The Trepak, the fast Russian leaping dance
- Pas de deux, corps de ballet, pointe
- Phones silent, clap after big moments, bravo or brava at the bows
Key facts · Part 2 Deeper
- Fritz, Clara's brother in some versions, breaks the toy nutcracker
- The Cavalier, the Sugar Plum Fairy's partner, often the Prince
- The Polichinelles, the children under Mother Ginger's skirt
- Spanish dance: trumpets and castanets. Chinese dance: plucked strings, flutes, jumps. Reed Flutes: three light flutes
- Act Two dances are showpieces with no plot, so just enjoy and clap
- Listen for the harp opening the Waltz of the Flowers and the falling melody in the pas de deux
- Names, settings and endings change by company, but the bones stay the same: party, battle, snow, sweets. The program has the final word
Key facts · Part 3 Drill
- Clara is the heroine, Drosselmeyer brings the gifts, the Mouse King is the villain, and Fritz breaks the toy nutcracker
- Act One is party, battle, snow. Act Two is the Land of Sweets, with showpiece dances and no plot
- Tiny bells mean the Sugar Plum Fairy, a giant skirt means Mother Ginger and the Polichinelles, fast leaps mean the Trepak
- Pas de deux is a dance for two, with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Corps de ballet is the group. Pointe is the toe shoes
- Phones silent, clap after big moments, shout bravo or brava at the bows, and trust your program
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