Once upon a time, I was
a little girl who loved fairy tales and believed in them. It would be a cliché
to say that I wanted to be a princess one day, rather, my desire was someday to
dance a small part in the most beloved Christmas ballet of all time, The Nutcracker, which was my first
introduction to classical music and the magical world of dance. I was
hypnotized by the first sound of the music’s chords and I was impatient for the
theater curtains to be opened and the performance to be started. At four years
of age, I fell in love with The
Nutcracker ballet, especially the story of Clara’s adventure while she is
dreaming on Christmas night. In some productions, the young heroine is called "Marie", "Maria", or "Masha".
The Nutcracker Ballet
During her dream,
Clara’s Christmas tree grew to a gigantic size, and all Christmas ornaments
came to life, including her toy nutcracker. There was even a battle between the evil Mouse King and the Nutcracker. The conflict
ended happily for the protagonist and was followed by a magical transformation
of the Nutcracker to the Prince. Clara and her Prince Charming traveled to the
Land of Sweets, where they were greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and saw many
wonderful things in the Candy Castle until the morning light, when Clara woke
up under the Christmas tree holding her toy nutcracker in her arms.
The plot of the Nutcracker ballet is a simple story, which
was based on Alexander Dumas’ adaptation
of the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, “The Nutcracker
and the Mouse King”. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the music to The Nutcracker ballet. It was originally
choreographed by Marius Petipa and premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St.
Petersburg, Russia, on December 18, 1892.
Today
One hundred and
twenty-six years later, many different versions of The Nutcracker ballet have been performed worldwide during every Christmas
season. The toy solder nutcracker lost its functional use long ago, but it has
become one of the most popular Christmas decorations and symbols of Christmas
around the world. The music of The
Nutcracker represents some of the most beloved and well known music in the
history of ballet, and has come to be closely associated with holiday magic. It
is difficult to say what exactly made this ballet beloved around the globe over
the past one hundred twenty-six years. Could it be the combination of the
timeless classical music with the graceful choreography of the ballet movements?
The Nutcracker certainly has inspired
the holiday spirit in its audiences throughout its existence.
Introduction to High Culture
For many children, The Nutcracker ballet is the first
introduction to high culture represented by classical music and theatrical
performances. It takes some time for children to appreciate classical music and
ballet, and it is better to start introducing kids to classical music as early
as possible, so that they may develop an appreciation for it. People of all
ages can enjoy classical music, which speaks to each listener in a different
way by touching them on an emotional level. There are other proven healthy
benefits from classical music exposure.
Benefits
of Classical Music
Classical music’s tempo has
been compared to the human heartbeat and can be associated with reducing the
anxiety level by lowering the production of the stress-related hormone
cortisol. Listening to classical music makes people feel peaceful by increasing
their dopamine level, which is a neurotransmitter that contributes to well-being and helps them to stay calm, focus on the task at hand, and resist depression. Listening to classical
music even boosts brain wave activity that is associated with the memory
function.
All of these benefits increase
even more when a child or adult can play a musical instrument. Live music creates
a magical atmosphere during family gatherings, especially close to the holiday
season. It is impossible not to feel a strong emotional response when a family
musician plays a famous Christmas song and fills the family room with a kind of
magic that builds timeless memories.
Do not get frustrated if
the initial introduction to culture does not go as smoothly as planned. For a
child, the first visit to the theater may last just 5 minutes. Do not give up
after one unsuccessful trip to see a live performance. The first time at the
theater should not be the last time to help a child to discover the love of classical
music and the fine arts.
The
Holiday Fairy Tale Comes to Life
One December evening, my
childhood dream came true and I was a part of The Nutcracker ballet. In the second act, I danced in the Spanish
Dance and also in the Reed Flutes, but my dream did not end there. After the performance,
I went outside. It was dark. I saw the city lights. I felt the freshness of the
cold winter air. I looked up and I saw the brightest star in the clear sky… and
it started snowing. Each snowflake was falling down, one by one. They were gliding
in the air and landing slowly on the ground like in Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the
Snowflakes. I felt this melody with my heart. I was alive in a fairy tale or the
fairy tale came to life around me. It did not matter because it was a magical moment
and I was in the middle of it…
The holiday season is full of miracles, which
are hiding all around us. We just need to look for them with our hearts and see
them! One of them is The Nutcracker
ballet! Is it just a performance? Or is it the magic of Christmas come to life?
Happy Holidays and Enjoy the Magic of Christmas with Your Loved Ones!
Kay
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