Keep the Spirit of The Nutcracker Going, Even After the Show

The Nutcracker is one of the most magical parts of the holiday and winter season. Why not keep the magic alive beyond the ballet? Below are some ways to keep engaged in the world of Clara, Fritz, and all your favorite characters. 

For younger kids, reading picture books is a great way to keep young minds sparked with imagination. Try the following: 

• Tullulah's Tutu and Tullulah's Nutcracker by Marilyn Singer

• Bea in Ballet and Bea in the Nutcracker by Rachel Isadora (for slightly older dancers, the same author has written Lili at Ballet and Lili on Stage).

• Ballet Bunnies by Joan Elizabeth Goodman

• Ella Bella Ballerina and The Nutcracker by James Mayhew

• Boys might particularly enjoy:

• Max by Rachel Isadora

• Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

For older kids, dive into the history and creation of The Nutcracker by discussing the following facts: 

• The story for The Nutcracker ballet is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman entitled “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”. The original story is much darker than the ballet, featuring a bloody battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King’s army, and the back-story of how the prince was changed into a nutcracker.

• The uniquely twinkling instrument you hear in “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is a celesta. Tchaikovsky smuggled this relative of the piano into Russia from Paris to add a unique sound to accompany the character of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

• The Nutcracker ballet premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia on December 18, 1892.