| For many, going to the see the ballet, The | | | | makes the dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, dum sound |
| Nutcracker, is a holiday tradition. Ballet | | | | unique. |
| Florida is proud to have entertained | | | | |
| thousands with its presentation of Marie | | | | The Sugar Plum Fairy Throws a Good Party: |
| Hale's The Nutcracker. We realize that some | | | | Some of the best dancing takes place near the |
| in our audience have never been to a ballet | | | | end of the ballet when the characters visit |
| before. Here are some fast facts about The | | | | the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. While |
| Nutcracker that will help you enjoy the | | | | there, dancers from all over the world |
| ballet as well as impress your friends with | | | | entertain Clara and company. This showcase |
| your knowledge of trivia. | | | | of dance has made this moment a fan favorite |
| | | | |
| There's a Curse: The Nutcracker Prince finds | | | | The First Production Had Problems: The |
| himself imprisoned in a little doll. When a | | | | ballet featured two choreographers. Lev |
| beautiful young girl falls in love with him, | | | | Ivanov started the work and later Marius |
| then the spell will be broken. | | | | Petipa was brought in to finish it. Peter |
| | | | Tchaikovsky created the score but thought the |
| There's Magic: Drosselmeyer is both a | | | | ballet was a failure. Audiences agreed and |
| magician and a maker of toys. He presents | | | | the production was called a flop. |
| the Nutcracker doll to Clara. | | | | |
| | | | From a Flop to a Hit: Despite the |
| It's Old: The Nutcracker was first performed | | | | disappointing debut, The Nutcracker continued |
| in Saint Petersburg, Russia on December 19, | | | | to be performed and it eventually reached |
| 1892. | | | | Europe in 1934 and American shores in 1944. |
| | | | A decade later, George Balanchine brought his |
| Listen Carefully: Tchaikovsky used the | | | | interpretation of the production to the New |
| production of The Nutcracker to introduce a | | | | York City Ballet. There it became a holiday |
| new instrument to audiences: the celesta. He | | | | favorite which helped inspire other |
| had heard the instrument in France and wanted | | | | productions around the world. Today, there |
| to be the first bring its distinctive and new | | | | are countless presentations of The |
| sound to a production score. This piano | | | | Nutcracker, which range from the traditional |
| cousin puts out a high octave sound that | | | | to extremely modern interpretations. |