Dance In The Nutcracker

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Recommended: History of dance

Ballet is one of the oldest types of dancing. Originating in France, ballet was entertainment for the king, and has now further developed into the ballet we know today. A key component of ballet is the shoe. Pointe shoes are made to make it appear as if the dancers are floating across the stage. By the time a dancer is professional she is en pointe, meaning she is using pointe shoes. Only a few dancers out of the many that enter the competitive world of ballet, rise to fame. Those that do normally do not become famous until they reach soloist or principal status in their respective companies. Principal and soloist dancers almost always dance the leads in ballets, such as The Firebird and The Nutcracker. The Firebird and The Nutcracker are …show more content…

This is the most famous version of the show, and it is performed every single year in New York. The leading roles, Clara and the Nutcracker, or Prince, are performed by children, which is highly unusual. Other important roles include: the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop, Coffee, Candy Cane, Drosselmeyer, and Drosselmeyer’s Nephew (“The Nutcracker (Balanchine)”). It is the dream of countless dancers to perform in The Nutcracker. The lead roles in ballets need strong technique, which is why it is abnormal for the leads to be danced by children in ballets, such as The …show more content…

It is based on the Russian folktale about Prince Ivan, who wanders into the realm of Koschei the Immortal. He is chasing The Firebird, but in their final battle he does not kill her. As a token of thanks, The Firebird gives Prince Ivan a magical feather to summon her in a time of dire need. Prince Ivan meets 13 princesses who are under the control of Koschei. He falls in love with one princess, and then quarrels with Koschei. Koschei sends his minions after Prince Ivan, who summons The Firebird. The Firebird puts the minions into a deep sleep and shows Prince Ivan how to end Koschei’s control over his love. Prince Ivan breaks the spell, and lives happily ever after with his true love (“The Firebird”). The more modern of versions of The Firebird are seen as contemporary ballets rather than traditional ballets because they are choreographed with a more modern idea of technique and

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