Inland Pacific Ballet

THE NUTCRACKER – TEACHING RESOURCES AND GUIDE

This project supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

How to use this guide

• This guide is designed to provide all of the internet resources for “The Nutcracker: A Study Guide for Teachers K-12” in one location.
• “The Nutcracker: A Study Guide” is designed for K-12 teachers. Due to the variety of grade levels, teachers are reminded to assess all links for their grade level appropriateness prior to sharing with their classes.
• Click on UNDERLINED words and quotes to navigate to internet links and videos.

About the Inland Pacific Ballet

• Inland Pacific Ballet web page
• Inland Pacific Ballet K-12 Field Trip Season Performances

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Nutcracker General Information

• The History of the Nutcracker (Pre-Activity #1)
• Nutcracker Synopsis 
• Inland Pacific Ballet’s Nutcracker Trailer
• Inland Pacific Ballet’s Nutcracker Trailer #2
• Kennedy Center: Cracking Open the Nutcracker

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Ballet as a Dance Form

Ballet Beginnings:

• Catherine de Medici
• King Louis XIV: Historic example of King Louis XIV choreography

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Features of Ballet Movement:

• Pointe Shoes
• Example of Turnout, Weightlessness and Relevé
• Five Ballet Positions
• Ballet Evolved—Historical Periods of Ballet Technique

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Ballet as a Dance Form

The Stories of Ballet:

• Plot-less Ballets: George Balanchine and New York City Ballet
• Excerpt from “Romeo and Juliet”-Ballet Genevé at Jacob’s Pillow
• Hong Kong Ballet: Symphony in Three Movements
• The Kirov Ballet: Swan Lake

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The Composer: �Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Pre Activity #4

• 1812 Overture  
• The Best of Tchaikovsky Music
• The Life of Tchaikovsky-Biography.com

Pre Activity #5,#8 & #10

• The Nutcracker Suite Music

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The Music of The Nutcracker

Pre Activity #7

• The Celestra
• The Celestra in Action: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Pre Activity #8

• The Trepak-Russian Dance

Additional Music Resources

• The Spanish Dance
• The Arabian Dance

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Divertissements of The Nutcracker

• Spanish Dance: Chocolate
• Arabian Dance: Coffee
• Chinese Dance: Tea
• Russian Dance: Candy Canes
• Mother Ginger: Bon-Bons
• Reed Flutes: Marizpan
• Waltz of the Flowers-New York City Ballet
• Dance of the Dew Drop Fairy
• Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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Pre and Post Activity Links

• The History of the Nutcracker (Pre-Activity #1)

Pre Activity#6

• Milwaukee Ballet-Perspectives from the Orchestra
• What is an Orchestra?

Pre Activity #7

• The Celestra
• The Celestra in Action: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Pre Activity #8

• The Trepak-Russian Dance

Additional Music Resources

• The Spanish Dance
• The Arabian Dance

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Pre and Post Activity Links

• Compare and Contrast Cultural Dance (Pre-Activity #9)
• Spain – Carolya Goya and Matteo/Jacob’s Pillow
• Chinese - The Peony Pavilion/ Jacob’s Pillow
• Arabian - Bellydance Fusion by Irina Akulenko
• Russian – Joshua and Twitch/So You Think You Can Dance (Season 4)

Pre-Activity #10

• Travel Guide: China
• Spain is Culture
• Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
• About.com: East Europe Travel

Pre-Activity #12

• The Battle and The Waltz of the Snowflakes music

Additional Resources

• Kennedy Center: Elements of Ballet Lesson Plan
• Kennedy Center: Ballet Resources
• BBC Discovering Tchaikovsky —Teacher’s Note: This is a very informative documentary series about Tchaikovsky but does have some adult themes. Episodes should be screened for their appropriateness.
• Recreating a Tutu--New York City Ballet Documentary
• Behind the Scenes at Inland Pacific Ballet-dancers discuss their experiences with dance and being a part of Inland Pacific Ballet
• Kennedy Center: Telling a Story Through Dance
• PBS Royal Ballet Lesson Plans for Teachers
• American Ballet Theater Online Video Dictionary of Ballet Terms
• California Department of Education - Content Standards & Framework
• "Telling A Story Through Dance" Lesson Plan

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