Nutcracker Story

The Story begins on Christmas, the most magical time of the year. Everyone is getting ready for parties, making last minute shopping trips, visiting friends and relatives. Herr Drosselmeyer is making toys in his toy shop for his grandchildren, testing to be sure they will be perfect. People pass on the street, perhaps on their way to a party? Everyone is filled with expectant good cheer. The Silberhaus family is having a Christmas party. Everyone is having a lovely time, except the rude Ratheimers. But everyone ignores their snobbishness. The couples dance and the children play. There are presents for everyone. Godfather Drosselmeyer is late, but brings a little mechanical German Doll for Clara. Then he shows the toy soldiers he brought for Fritz.

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  Then all the little girls receive special dolls as gifts, but where is the doll for Clara? Not to worry, Godfather Drosselmeyer has a beautiful Nutcracker for her. She falls instantly in love with her handsome little friend. But Fritz is jealous. He wanted a Nutcracker too. So he chases Clara until he can get it away from her, and then he breaks it. Clara is devastated. Drosselmeyer takes the Nutcracker, and ties a handkerchief around to fix the break. It works! Clara and her friends dance their babies to sleep with a lullaby. Everyone is sleepy, but happy. It's time to go home.

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  Clara can't sleep. So she comes back to the parlor, and falls asleep in the chair. There are noises. Skitter, scatter Oh, is that a mouse? Clara wakes to be surrounded by big rats. She jumps down, and suddenly, she hears the clock chiming She turns, and sees the Nutcracker on top of the clock. She runs to get it, and there is Godfather Drosselmeyer, looking like a frighteningly huge owl! He takes her whirling round and round, until she hardly knows what is happening. She nearly bumps into a little angel, coming through with a candle. She follows the angel, and doesn't notice how large the Christmas tree is growing. Or is Clara shrinking?

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The Nutcracker appears, and he is bigger than Clara! Oh, and a terrible Rat King with his army of horrid rats. But Fritz's toy soldiers are there, too, and they begin to fight a war against the rats. They are losing rather badly, until finally the Rat King has the Nutcracker pinned to the floor. Clara runs up and strikes the Rat King with her shoe, giving the Nutcracker just enough time to finish him off. The little angels come to take the dying Rat King off to heaven, as the rats mourn the death of their leader.

The Snow Queen comes to wash all of the bloodshed away and crowns Clara the Princess of the Land of Snow. It begins to snow, as Clara and the Nutcracker go off to the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

   Clara is enchanted with the beautiful kingdom. She meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, and with the help of the Nutcracker and Drosselmeyer, tells the Story of how she received the Nutcracker, and helped fight the war against the Rat King. The Sugar Plum Fairy gives her the throne of the Land of Sweets. Clara sits down to watch the people of the land present dances for her.

   First, there is a firey Spanish dance, with flowing skirts and fans. Then a gorgeous Arabian dance, with a funny camel.

And a happy Chinese dance. A Russian dance, where they jump and spin, almost flying. The delicate little reed flutes, twirling and softly piping. And Madame Ginger, with her huge skirt, trying to get her naughty children to go to bed.

Then a lovely waltz is danced by all of the graceful flowers.


Last, the Sugar Plum Fairy & her Cavalier dance a "Grand Pas De Deux" especially for Clara.

But alas, she can't stay forever. Everything becomes a blur as the Nutcracker takes her back to her parlor. She wakes up in the same chair, and the Nutcracker is gone.
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Performance for School Groups Coordiantor: Ellen Cochran Contact: EMAIL BMN: 651-222-7919 CBA: 651-290-0513 249 East Fourth Street, St Paul, Minnesota, 55101 MISSION: Ballet Minnesota is dedicated to creating and sharing artistry in dance through public presentations and education. BMN Executive Director: Cynthia Betz 651-222-7919 BMN Artistic Director CBA Co-director Andrew Rist Email 651-290-0513 CBA School Director: Cheryl Rist Grant Writer: Art Penfield Production Manager: Jim Arnold Board President: Lisa Gray Volunteer Coordinator: Mary Klein 20th Anniversary Ball Chairperson: Julia Lauwagie Consultant Physical Therapist : Maryann Johnson Corporate Sponsors Allied Vaughan Barsuhn Cynthia Betz - Edina Realty Fratallone's Ace Hardware Jerry's Printing Grand Jete Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Minnesota State Arts Board Minneapolis / St Paul Magazine Minnesota Public Radio Nordstrom Parallel Technologies, Inc Pioneer Press Roger Beck Florist St Paul Cultural STAR Program St Paul Hotel Target UBS Dain Rauscher Absolute Trailer Sales .	NUTCRACKER STORY written by Laurie Parker ( Laurie danced the role of Clara in 1994 )
	The Story begins on Christmas, the most magical time of the year. Everyone is getting ready for parties, making last minute shopping trips, visiting friends and relatives. Herr Drosselmeyer is making toys in his toy shop for his grandchildren, testing to be sure they will be perfect. People pass on the street, perhaps on their way to a party? Everyone is filled with expectant good cheer. The Silberhaus family is having a Christmas party. Everyone is having a lovely time, except the rude Ratheimers. But everyone ignores their snobbishness. The couples dance and the children play. There are presents for everyone. Godfather Drosselmeyer is late, but brings a little mechanical German Doll for Clara. Then he shows the toy soldiers he brought for Fritz. . Then all the little girls receive special dolls as gifts, but where is the doll for Clara? Not to worry, Godfather Drosselmeyer has a beautiful Nutcracker for her. She falls instantly in love with her handsome little friend. But Fritz is jealous. He wanted a Nutcracker too. So he chases Clara until he can get it away from her, and then he breaks it. Clara is devastated. Drosselmeyer takes the Nutcracker, and ties a handkerchief around to fix the break. It works! Clara and her friends dance their babies to sleep with a lullaby. Everyone is sleepy, but happy. It's time to go home. . Clara can't sleep. So she comes back to the parlor, and falls asleep in the chair. There are noises. Skitter, scatter Oh, is that a mouse? Clara wakes to be surrounded by big rats. She jumps down, and suddenly, she hears the clock chiming She turns, and sees the Nutcracker on top of the clock. She runs to get it, and there is Godfather Drosselmeyer, looking like a frighteningly huge owl! He takes her whirling round and round, until she hardly knows what is happening. She nearly bumps into a little angel, coming through with a candle. She follows the angel, and doesn't notice how large the Christmas tree is growing. Or is Clara shrinking? . The Nutcracker appears, and he is bigger than Clara! Oh, and a terrible Rat King with his army of horrid rats. But Fritz's toy soldiers are there, too, and they begin to fight a war against the rats. They are losing rather badly, until finally the Rat King has the Nutcracker pinned to the floor. Clara runs up and strikes the Rat King with her shoe, giving the Nutcracker just enough time to finish him off. The little angels come to take the dying Rat King off to heaven, as the rats mourn the death of their leader. The Snow Queen comes to wash all of the bloodshed away and crowns Clara the Princess of the Land of Snow. It begins to snow, as Clara and the Nutcracker go off to the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara is enchanted with the beautiful kingdom. She meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, and with the help of the Nutcracker and Drosselmeyer, tells the Story of how she received the Nutcracker, and helped fight the war against the Rat King. The Sugar Plum Fairy gives her the throne of the Land of Sweets. Clara sits down to watch the people of the land present dances for her. First, there is a firey Spanish dance, with flowing skirts and fans. Then a gorgeous Arabian dance, with a funny camel. And a happy Chinese dance. A Russian dance, where they jump and spin, almost flying. The delicate little reed flutes, twirling and softly piping. And Madame Ginger, with her huge skirt, trying to get her naughty children to go to bed. Then a lovely waltz is danced by all of the graceful flowers. Last, the Sugar Plum Fairy & her Cavalier dance a "Grand Pas De Deux" especially for Clara. But alas, she can't stay forever. Everything becomes a blur as the Nutcracker takes her back to her parlor. She wakes up in the same chair, and the Nutcracker is gone. .