The nutcracker ballet history of

Hoffmanns 1816 tale the nutcracker and the mouse king had been adapted by alexandre dumas he of three musketeers fame in 1844, and it was a ballet. For many people, attending a performance of the nutcracker is a holiday tradition and an introduction to the world of classical ballet and music. A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the silver screen. The nutcracker ballet actually started as a story written by german author e. How tchaikovskys nutcracker became a holiday tradition. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the nutcracker ballet. Tracing ballet s cultural history over 400 years ballet s history is not just about choreography and technique its also a history of nationalization, the. Dance channel tv provides a colorful, detailed history of the origins of the nutcracker as we know it today. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king.

The secret jewish history of the nutcracker the forward. It was originally called the nutcracker and the king of mice. Learn the history of the beloved holiday classic, the nutcracker. Over 100 years old, the nutcracker ballet was first presented at the mariinsky theatre in st. Ballets by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky swan lake the sleeping beauty the nutcracker list of all compositions v t e the nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet, originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev ivanov with a score by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. Peter tchaikovsky, the famous russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer marius petipa to compose the ballet, score based on alexandre dumas s adaptation of e. From the nutcracker prince who slit his own throat to the 25yearold dancer who was addicted to cocaine then developed an eating disorder here, we reveal the dark history of.

The production was first performed in december 1892 in st. Grand rapids ballet s production opens 129 at devos hall. George balanchine, who grew up in russia, danced the role of the prince in the nutcracker in 1919 when he was 15 years old. The dark, cocainefueled history of the nutcracker ballet. How tchaikovskys nutcracker became a holiday tradition renee montagne talks with miles hoffman about the history of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. History of the nutcracker the classic christmas story ballet the origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. The nutcracker ballet is a holiday tradition, but how did it begin.

The choreography was by lev ivanov after marius petipa, w. The story of the nutcracker originally derives from the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e. When marius petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by alexander dumas, a well known french author. Petersburg, and tchaikovsky s suite of the eight most popular songs like the dance of the sugar plum fairy and the russian dance quickly became a hit. The history of the nutcracker ballet in america time. The nutcracker premiered at the maryinsky theatre in st.

Over time, as the nutcracker became a cornerstone of the repertoire of ballet companies across the country, dancers, choreographers, and audiences thirsted for innovative takes on the ballet. Hoffmann, which was subsequently adapted by renowned french author alexandre dumas as the story of a nutcracker in france in 1844. Although the original production was not a success, the 20minute suite that tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892.