A dream come true

Played by a Moscow Ballet la Classique dancer, German girl Clara Stahlbaum is enraptured with her Christmas present, a nutcracker doll that transforms into a prince in the famous ballet The Nutcracker, which the Russian company will perform in Gisborne next week. Picture supplied

The frost-covered, gas lit world of Clara, her nutcracker doll’s dream-like transformation into a prince and their journey through magical lands come to life when a Moscow Ballet company dances into town on Monday.

Following last year’s sell-out performance of Swan Lake, Moscow Ballet la Classique is now on its way to present for two nights only Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece The Nutcracker.

Widely regarded as the jewel of classical ballet, this romantic tale with its blend of magic and realism features the Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy and The Waltz Of The Flowers.

The Nutcracker opens with a Christmas party at the Stahlbaum family’s home. Among clock and toy maker Drosselmeyer’s gifts is a nutcracker doll he gives to Clara. After the guests have left and the family have gone to bed Clara sneaks back to the tree and falls asleep with the doll in her arms.

When the clock strikes midnight, magic happens. Toys come to life and the fierce Mouse King and his army of mice enter the room. The Nutcracker awakens and he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. When Clara saves the doll from capture the Nutcracker turns into a prince and takes Clara on a journey to an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

The prince then escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. When she hears of the battle with the army of mice she rewards Clara and the prince with a celebration of dances.

Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.

Choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to score the Nutcracker in 1891 and it premiered a year later in 1892. Initially panned by critics, the ballet has gone on to become the most widely performed ballet all over the world.

Moscow Ballet la Classique is making good on a promise the company made before it left the country following last year’s sell-out success of Swan Lake.

As a token of its commitment to return to tour New Zealand every year, the troupe left behind its lavish costumes, props and clothes.

The set designed for The Nutcracker, as well as the costumes, will be also be left in New Zealand before the company leaves to get ready to return again next year.

Moscow Ballet la Classique presents The Nutcracker, War Memorial Theatre, Monday, May 7 at 7.30pm and Tuesday, May 8 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Stephen Jones Photography and http://www.eventfinda.co.nz