Everyone has heard of the famous ballet, and many people have taken their daughters to see the production around the Christmas season, willing to sit with their young ones through a two hour show if it means their child might enjoy their first taste of the ballet. The Nutcracker is very commonly enjoyed, and all sorts of people, dancers or not, make a point to go see it every years or so.
My Experience with the Nutcracker
Personally, the Nutcracker was something I had always known about, but never quite found fascinating. As a child I had a CD with the songs on it that I listened to to feel grown up (any song without words never felt like it was meant for me), and as I got a little older we began to collect several copies of the story in picture book form, and even one in chapter book form that I read around the Christmas tree one year.
So needless to say, I was well aware of the story, but was also aware that it did not merge itself into my holiday traditions as much as other things. In fact, I had never even gone to see the ballet (minus one time that I found it on the TV and bored myself to death for the better part of an hour) until a couple years ago. And even then I somehow didn’t find the ballet much to my taste.
It wasn’t until this year that I realized what a lovely story and ballet the Nutcracker is, and that is the reason I am writing this post right now.
So what changed my mind?
Well, it was a combination of the right timing and a well put on production. This past weekend I went to see a production of the Nutcracker because a young girl I know was in it. It wasn’t something I was particularly looking forward to, considering my past experiences, but almost as soon as I sat down I found that this was something I was enjoying already.
The lively music, the beautiful dresses of the ladies on stage, the splendid acting, it all made for a lovely, entertaining show that even I was glad to experience. It was quite wonderful to watch, and gave me a little glimpse at why people would be willing to spend so much time preparing for it.
The Story
The story of the Nutcracker is rooted in fanciful dreams and wishes. It isn’t the sort of story with a deep plot or character arch, but the kind that you watch unfold before your eyes on stage, telling the story of a girl and her nutcracker, a soldier and his army, a fairy and her sugar inspired dancers.
I think that in order for me to enjoy the ballet, I had to come into it with the right mindset. You can’t go to the Nutcracker hoping to be sitting on the edge of your seat in suspense, nor can you expect a story that will play with your emotions until you’re in tears. To watch the production to its full potential, you have to anticipate a display of loveliness and a story that is expressed visually to our eyes.
The story of the Nutcracker is an enchanting tale of fantasy and whimsical delight. It is full of fascinating characters that come together to tell the story of a girl and her Nutcracker, and the dreams of a completely new world.
Final Thoughts
I never thought I would say this, but I love the Nutcracker. It is a beautiful ballet, and something I see myself thinking fondly of for years in the future.
What do you think of the Nutcracker? Is it something you enjoy watching, or have you even seen it? I would love if you shared your thoughts on this topic in the comments.😊
For the Love of Stories 