The Nutcracker and the holiday season seem to go hand-in-hand, but dancers often have a different perspective on this classic ballet. Many of the ones that I know have either danced it or seen it so many times that, well, let’s just say the magic is gone.
Sometimes referred to as simply “nuts”, this story ballet has a special place in my heart as it was the first time I performed in a large-scale production of this kind. Cast as an angel, I would sit through performance after performance on the stage and watch every dance in the second act over and over again. I have to say–I never tired of it. My favorites were always the Arabian dancers, and, of course, the Sugar Plum.
Even now I use music from this ballet in my class from time to time. It brings back good memories and the students find it inspirational.
So…what kind of dancer are you? Does The Nutcracker make you want to pull your hair out and run around screaming? Or would you see it again and again….? Where do you fit in along that spectrum, and why?
Haha, I think I will spare you for my description of “the nuts”, We all know its not really flattering. That said, it`s not the fact that I performed it a million times that makes me pull my hair.. The “nutcracker and the mouse king” is a really quite nice fairy-tale. It`s just, the “nutcracker” ballet makes, in 90% of the productions, no sense whatsoever. I mean, come on – sugar plum land? Chinese dances? And the whole “was it a dream” – or maybe she doesn`t wake up at all, or was she dreaming in the first place, or what the f%#k is happening, my oh my, I can`t handle it 🙂
Still, I know a lot of people enjoy the ballet very much, and I`m happy to provide them with one of the finest christmas-moments every year – after all, a lot of people go to see the “nut”, and that`s never a bad thing, now?! 🙂
🙂 I totally agree with the whole story thing. Unrealistic at best!