No Christmas season is complete without Uncle Drosselmeyer. He gives Clara a nutcracker as a gift at his Christmas party. Without the nutcracker, Clara can’t go on her journey to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s castle, which looks like Louisiana’s Old State Capitol for one dance company. Three dance companies will perform different versions of “The Nutcracker” this year — Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, Cangelosi Dance Project, and Lafayette Ballet Theatre. Baton Rouge Ballet’s “A Tale From The Bayou” is set in Baton Rouge. The original Nutcracker ballet is based on a novella by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It includes nearly 300 cast members and performances with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. The role of Clara will be danced by Mary Harper Hart, Sara Jane Booty, and Aisleigh Dufrene. Lindsey Donnell and Elias Re from the Dance Theatre of Harlem will join as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The production captures Louisiana’s Christmas spirit.
Vocabulary List:
- Nutcracker /ˈnʌtˌkrækər/ (noun): A tool or ornament designed to crack nuts often associated with holiday traditions.
- Journey /ˈdʒɜːrni/ (noun): The act of traveling from one place to another often associated with a quest or adventure.
- Performances /pərˈfɔːrmənsɪz/ (noun): The act of presenting a play dance or other forms of entertainment to an audience.
- Production /prəˈdʌkʃən/ (noun): The process of creating or presenting a play or performance.
- Cavalier /ˌkæv.əˈlɪr/ (noun): A horseman especially a man serving as a knight; in this context represents a partner to the Sugar Plum Fairy.
- Spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ (noun): The non-physical part of a person or being often associated with feelings character or essence commonly referenced in holiday contexts.
