Romantic Era DanceRomantic Era Dance

Romantic Era BalletRomantic Era Ballet

Brought the ballerina to new heights Brought the ballerina to new heights of glamour and popularityof glamour and popularity

Male dancer's role decreasedMale dancer's role decreased1830-1840 - The Golden Age of Ballet1830-1840 - The Golden Age of Ballet

The Golden Age of BalletThe Golden Age of Ballet

Ballet became supremely popular Ballet became supremely popular during the Romantic Era. during the Romantic Era.

The most important composer and The most important composer and ballet choreographer is ballet choreographer is TchaikovskyTchaikovsky

The Nutcracker SuiteThe Nutcracker Suite The Romanticism movement saw the Golden Age The Romanticism movement saw the Golden Age

of ballet develop, as we see in Tchaikovsky's of ballet develop, as we see in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker SuiteNutcracker Suite. The ballet is a narrative . The ballet is a narrative fantasy, for it shows the toys of a child coming to fantasy, for it shows the toys of a child coming to life and having an adventure. Part of the life and having an adventure. Part of the Nutcracker Suite is the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Nutcracker Suite is the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," a fantasy of magic, whim, and emotion Fairy," a fantasy of magic, whim, and emotion typical of the Romantic period. typical of the Romantic period.

The Nutcracker shows two key elements of the The Nutcracker shows two key elements of the Romantic Period:Romantic Period:1.1. a tendency to portray life as it is not; it may distort the a tendency to portray life as it is not; it may distort the

real world in order to escape from it, andreal world in order to escape from it, and2.2. reason came in second to feeling and intuition. Writers reason came in second to feeling and intuition. Writers

abandon the old rules and started using stylized abandon the old rules and started using stylized methods. methods.

The NutcrackerThe Nutcracker Plot Synopsis Plot Synopsis

ExpositionExposition A mysterious magician and toymaker once A mysterious magician and toymaker once

invented a trap that killed off half the mouse invented a trap that killed off half the mouse population. population.

In revenge, the wicked Mouse Queen cast a In revenge, the wicked Mouse Queen cast a spell on Drosselmeyer's nephew, Hans-Peter.spell on Drosselmeyer's nephew, Hans-Peter.

Transformed him into an ugly nutcracker doll. Transformed him into an ugly nutcracker doll. The only way to break the spell is for the The only way to break the spell is for the

Nutcracker to slay the Mouse King and for a Nutcracker to slay the Mouse King and for a young girl to love and care for him in spite of young girl to love and care for him in spite of his awful appearance.his awful appearance.

Rising ActionRising Action

Drosselmeyer gives his nephew to Clara Drosselmeyer gives his nephew to Clara as a Christmas gift, hoping to end the as a Christmas gift, hoping to end the curse. curse.

At the end of the Christmas party, Clara At the end of the Christmas party, Clara goes downstairs and finds Drosselmeyer goes downstairs and finds Drosselmeyer waiting to put her into a magical land waiting to put her into a magical land

The magician summons the Mouse King The magician summons the Mouse King and he and The Nutcracker fight.and he and The Nutcracker fight.

ClimaxClimax

The Nutcracker slays the Mouse King, The Nutcracker slays the Mouse King, but only through the intervention of but only through the intervention of Clara, who, out of compassion, saves Clara, who, out of compassion, saves the Nutcracker's life.the Nutcracker's life.

Hans-Peter is restored to his real self.Hans-Peter is restored to his real self.

Falling ActionFalling Action

Clara and The Nutcracker (now Hans-Clara and The Nutcracker (now Hans-Peter) travel to the Land of Snow, Peter) travel to the Land of Snow, then the Sugar Garden in the then the Sugar Garden in the Kingdom of Sweets, where they meet Kingdom of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairythe Sugar Plum Fairy

Drosselmeyer honors them for their Drosselmeyer honors them for their bravery.bravery.

DenoumentDenoument

Returning to reality, Clara runs out to Returning to reality, Clara runs out to Drosselmeyer, but sees the human Drosselmeyer, but sees the human form of The Nutcracker instead form of The Nutcracker instead

Drosselmeyer prays that his efforts Drosselmeyer prays that his efforts will be rewarded. will be rewarded.

His nephew returns; the spell has His nephew returns; the spell has indeed been broken. indeed been broken.