Teacher's Guide
Preparing Your Class to See The Nutcracker
This Teacher’s Guide is prepared especially for you, the teacher who celebrates the arts by sharing the music, drama and movement that is ballet with school children. We hope that these materials will help you enhance a child’s enjoyment and understanding of dance and the world of ballet.
The Nutcracker is the story of a young girl, Clara, who receives a special gift from her Uncle Drosselmeyer at her family’s annual holiday party. A variety of magical dolls entertain the guests, but Clara’s gift, a magnificent Nutcracker doll is the best of all. Her brother, Fritz, is unhappy with his own gift and very jealous of Clara’s. With the help of his friends, Fritz snatches the Nutcracker from Clara and breaks it. Uncle Drosselmeyer is able to repair the doll, and the party continues happily. After the guests leave, Clara falls into a deep sleep, nestling with her prized doll. The clock strikes twelve and Clara awakens to find herself in a battlefield of mice and rats, with a menacing Rat King, toy soldiers, and a life-size Nutcracker doll. The battle ends when, with the help of the Nutcracker, the Rat King is killed. Clara then travels on a magical journey to the Kingdom of Snow and the Land of Sweets where dancers from many countries celebrate. She finds herself home again and tells her Mother and Father of her adventure. It was only a dream – or was it?
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