Music: Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Elizabeth DiStasio-Waddell
Ballet Synopsis
A Christmas party is being given at the home of Dr. Stahlbaum, his wife, his daughter Marie, and son Fritz. Uncle Drosselmeyer, Marie’s godfather, who is also an inventor, brings moving toys and presents a puppet show to amuse the children. He gives Marie a nutcracker soldier, but her brother, Fritz breaks the nutcracker by pulling of its head. Marie is inconsolable, but Uncle Drosselmeyer magically mends Marie's nutcracker.
After the guests leave, Marie sneaks into the living room to comfort her nutcracker. Uncle Drosselmeyer appears, waves his arms, and everything in the room begins to grow. A battle begins, a rat king appears and calls his henchmen, challenging the nutcracker soldier and his army to battle. As the nutcracker and his army seem to be fighting a losing battle, Marie distracts the rat king by throwing her slipper at him, while the nutcracker soldier runs the rat king through with his sword.
The nutcracker magically turns into a handsome prince. In thanks for her bravery, the prince takes Marie on a journey to the Kingdom of Snow where magically, snowflakes begin to waltz. They then journey to the Land of Sweets, which is ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy. The prince tells the Sugarplum Fairy of the battle with the rat king and Marie’s bravery. The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes sweets to dance for Marie and the Prince: Chocolate (Spanish), Coffee (Arabian), Tea (Chinese), Sweet Mirlitons, Waltzing Flowers, and Mother Gigone and her children.