The Nutcracker Ballet

Now I know you are probably saying "Christmas? I haven't even had Thanksgiving yet", but Christmas takes planning, especially if you plan on attending Holiday performances. My Christmas Place has been created as a Christmas card and has lots of stories, artwork and information about the holiday season. I have created this special post for all of you to plan your matinee or evening at the ballet.

Clara and her beloved Nutcracker come alive on stage all over the world in the ballet performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. The ballet is a holiday tradition that marks the beginning of this very special season. I painted this Clara on canvas using oil a few years back, and I use this artwork each year on cards, and decorations.

This year I have made Tussie Mussie's using Clara and Nutcracker goodies for Christmas gifts. If you would like to know how I made them, just highlight the mosaic below and it will lead you to flickr and the tutorial.




Can you tell I get excited about the Nutcracker? I do, I loved taking my daughters when they were little and watching the expression on my mother's face when she watched her grand daughters be totally mesmerized by the performance. We always got dressed up for the ballet and my girls would have red velvet dresses and bows in their hair. It was a tradition and my mom and I were little girls on the night of the ballet as well. They are teens now...sigh, and I don't believe they allow cell phones in the theatre, so I will have to take a girl friend instead. That's okay soon enough they will be moms and they will beg me to attend and I'll get to watch with glee as my grandchildren's faces light up with awe.

I found the most amazing site with all kinds of magical eye candy, the site has one of those magical wand mouse thingies cascading stars everywhere you point...I love those. This totally magical site has the Russian version of the Nutcracker story, and everything wonderful about The Nutcracker Ballet. On this amazing web site you can watch video clips of dance performances, backstage and they even have a video clip discussing how they make all the costumes, narrated by the head costume designer.

Clara and the Nutcracker Tussie Mussie, originally uploaded by bluebirdsandteapots.

We have seen the Nutcracker performed locally in Long Island, by the New York City Ballet Company in Manhattan, in Hong Kong at the Kowloon Art Center, in Princeton New Jersey at the MacCarter Theatre, Toronto, and in Boston. The English National Ballet must be wonderful performing in London. For my friends from Australia, the Australian Ballet will perform the Australian premiere of Peter Wright's Nutcracker. I love it when the stage comes alive in beautiful decorations. No matter which stage we saw the performance, I still was thrilled and I am thrilled to usher in the holiday season with yet another.

Wherever you see this ballet it seems to escort the holiday season with the magic only fairytales and children can awaken. I have found a wonderful place where they list most of the performances of the Nutcracker across the country at Tickets Now.

I just love Canada, and of course as I browsed through the various web sites for the ballet companies performing the ballet, Toronto's was the most magical place. You can even arrange for a backstage tour. The National Ballet company of Canada is performing the Nutracker Ballet in Toronto.The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is located on Ring 3 and is a focal point of the spectacular City Room on University Avenue and hosts a breathtaking view of Toronto’s ceremonial boulevard. Can you tell I love Toronto...as much as I do New York?

The New York City Ballet Company is performing the Nutcracker from November 23rd through December 30th, 2007. The Ballet company has a wonderful site which has a book telling the story of the ballet, you can even turn the pages in this virtual book. Once you are there...just scroll down the choices on the lefthand side until you reach "read the story" on the New York Ballet Company site.



If you are planning on seeing the ballet in Boston, The Boston Ballet Company, there are even more lovely things to do in Boston to make the magic complete...you can bring your children to a Sugar Plum Tea at the Ritz Carlton in Boston Common:

Sugar Plum Teas and Nutcracker Brunches
at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
These family-friendly Teas will feature delicious treats from the land of sweets, story-time and cookie decorating. At the Brunches, The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom becomes a fantasy land as The Nutcracker characters re-enact the story of this beloved classic.
Brunches: Sundays, Dec. 2, 9 & 16 at 10am $35 per child, $65 per adult.
Teas: Saturdays, Dec. 1, 8 & 15 at 11am $30 per child, $40 per adult.
Call 617.574.7184 to reserve your place at a Brunch or Tea.
*Matinees are at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Must have Nutcracker tickets to participate. Happy Holidays,

Whether you have children to take to this magical Christmas and Holiday event, or you are a child at heart, plan on attending this glorious ballet. Grab your girlfriend, sister, mother, mother-in-law, Grandmother, aunt, cousin, Grandfather, beau or husband and give yourself and someone you love a special memory gift.

The music for this post is The Nutcracker Suite performed by London Festival orchestra.



Happy Holiday planning.

Blessings, Karen