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What delicious irony– that the most popular ballet production of all time includes a whole act devoted to food! And not just any food—we\u2019re talking DANCING FOOD<\/i>! This month some of the most fit and athletic people on the planet are dancing roles as sugary, fatty, indulgent sweets and treats in the perennial holiday classic The Nutcracker<\/em>. Yet the ballet was a total flop at its Russian premiere in 1892. So why is The Nutcracker so popular today? Here\u2019s the skinny on ballet\u2019s addictive sweet tooth…<\/strong><\/p>\n Originally designed as an entertaining after piece of fairy-tale magic to Tchaikovsky\u2019s opera about a blind princess (Iolanta), The Nutcracker<\/em> tells the story of a Christmas party at which the daughter of the house (Clara, or sometimes Marie) receives a Nutcracker doll from her mysterious godfather (Herr Drosselmeyer). Later that night, when Clara goes to check on her Nutcracker, the tree starts growing until all the toys beneath it are life-size. In a battle between the toy soldiers and mice, her beloved Nutcracker fights off the horrid Mouse King. Just as he is about to be overwhelmed, Clara saves the Nutcracker by throwing her shoe at the Mouse King to vanquish him.<\/p>\n The Nutcracker is then transformed into a handsome young prince who leads her through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets (home of the Sugar Plum Fairy) where dancers representing various nationalities of food and drink perform in her honor. They include:<\/p>\n Spanish Chocolate<\/p>\n Arabian Coffee<\/p>\n Chinese Tea<\/p>\n Marzipan (also \u201cMirlitons,\u201d or Dance of the Reed Flutes)<\/p>\n Candy Canes (also \u201cTrepak,\u201d or Russian Dance)<\/p>\n Mother Ginger and Bon-bons<\/p>\n The Waltz of the Flowers (originally the flowers were sweetmeats!)<\/p>\n The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy<\/p>\n The end of the story typically depicts Clara waking up next to her Nutcracker doll to discover it was all a dream. But oh my what a dream! Mystery, magic, violence, romance, glitter, pretty ladies, and dancing food\u2026 What more could anyone ask for???<\/p>\n Well, apparently The Nutcracker<\/em> left a bad taste in the mouths of contemporary critics. Not only did they declare this theatrical dessert \u201can insult\u201d that spelled \u201cdeath for the company\u201d, but they also panned the Sugar Plum Fairy as \u201cpodgy\u201d! With such a sour reputation the ballet soon fell from the repertory, and for the next 50 years, it was very rarely performed.<\/p>\n So how did The Nutcracker<\/em> gain the iconic holiday status it enjoys today?<\/p>\n San Francisco Ballet performed the first complete Nutcracker in the U. S. on December 24, 1944. It was such a success that the company presented the production every subsequent Christmas Eve and throughout the winter season. Given the painful realities and hardships of World War II, Americans were ripe to enjoy the story of a warm and cozy Christmas in which the blight of violence and chaos is handily defeated to reveal a world of enchantment and gustiary abundance–even if it is just an innocent dream. By the time New York City Ballet began its annual stagings of George Balanchine\u2019s version in 1954, The Nutcracker fit well into the 1950\u2019s advertising paradigm of a picture perfect home and family.<\/p>\n But it was CBS television\u2019s Christmas night broadcasts of Balanchine\u2019s version in 1957 and 1958 that brought The Nutcracker<\/em> into the homes and hearts of millions. For many viewers, The Nutcracker<\/em> was their first exposure to ballet. The television production included narrations to guide viewers about what to look for, while close camera angles brought them right into a family celebration that mirrored 1950\u2019s ideals of home, family, and demur, perfectly coiffed women. Throughout the 1960\u2019s, annual productions of The Nutcracker<\/em> sprang up across America. It\u2019s U.S. popularity transformed this once obscure work of Christmas nostalgia into a ballet icon, causing the work to spread back to Europe and beyond, making it the worldwide ballet phenomenon we know today.<\/p>\n Despite its sugary sweetness, The Nutcracker<\/em> has become the fiscal \u201cbread and butter\u201d of ballet companies, accounting for some 40% of annual revenue. Nutcracker performances abound each year, presented by amateur ballet schools and world class professional ballet companies alike. These days you\u2019re also likely to find a Nutcracker to suit just about any taste–light, dark, romantic, comic, twisted, straight, fluffy, traditional, or total spoof.<\/p>\n Because it\u2019s the single most performed work for most ballet dancers, we especially love doing spoof versions! In my day, as a treat for the dancers and audience, Houston Ballet would stage a \u201cNutty Nutcracker\u201d towards the end of our 42 show run each year. The dancers got so into putting together this version that it totally reinvigorated our spirits (and bodies!) at the end of such a long performance haul. Each year saw new spoofs–snowflakes became big clumsy men, the Clintons hosted the Christmas party, Michael Jackson got everyone into the groove, the Black Swan came to take over the Land of Sweets–the list goes on and on\u2026 such fun times!<\/p>\n But because we do so many performances of it in our careers, many dancers have less affection for The Nutcracker. Most would be glad not to hear Tchaikovsky\u2019s lovely score the entire rest of the year (or even lives!). Each year has plenty of eye rolling and audible \u201cughs!\u201d at the start of Nutcracker rehearsals.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not one of these Nutcracker naysayers\u2026 Yes, I\u2019m a total ballet nerd, but I still LOVE The Nutcracker<\/em>! So here\u2019s a little playlist of my Nutcracker faves to get you in the spirit. They are the ebullient Waltz of the Flowers, the majestic and intense Snow Scene, and the luminous grandeur of the Grand (Sugar Plum Fairy) Pas de deux.<\/p>\n Enjoy!<\/p>\n –Tiekka<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” color=”#cccccc” show_divider=”on” divider_style=”solid” divider_position=”top” hide_on_mobile=”on”] [\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_signup admin_label=”Email Optin” provider=”mailchimp” mailchimp_list=”4e7755f0ae” aweber_list=”none” title=”Everyday Ballet In Your Inbox!” button_text=”Subscribe Today!” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f986a5″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_focus_border_color=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_button=”off” button_letter_spacing=”0″ button_use_icon=”default” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ body_font_size=”17″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n Subscribe to the Everyday Ballet newsletter and get weekly free EDB workouts, tips, nutritional advice and style-counsel from Everyday Ballet.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”post copy” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] What delicious irony– that the most popular ballet production of all time includes a whole act devoted to … <\/p>\n<\/h5>\n
WORLD WAR II, TELEVISION, AND NOSTALGIC LONGING<\/strong><\/h4>\n