TheNutcrackerStudyGuide

FridayDecember14,2018

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ContentsATTENDINGAPERFORMANCEATTILLESCENTER.......................................3-4

YOURROLEASANAUDIENCEMEMBER.........................................................5

ABOUTEGLEVSKYBALLET..............................................................................6

ABOUTTHEPRODUCTION..............................................................................7

SYNOPSIS.....................................................................................................8-9

ABOUTDANCE&BALLET..............................................................................10

BASICBALLETPOSITIONS.............................................................................11

ABOUTTHECOMPOSER...............................................................................12

REVIEWWORKSHEET...................................................................................13

ABOUTTILLESCENTER..................................................................................14

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ATTENDINGAPERFORMANCETheconcerthallatTillesCenterseats2,242people.HillwoodRecitalHallseats490people.WhenyouattendaperformanceatTillesCenter,thereareafewthingsyoushouldremember:

ARRIVAL• Plantoarriveapproximately30minutespriortotheshow.• Performancescannotbeheldforlatebuses.• LIUPostPublicSafetywilldirectbusestoparkingareas.• Remainseatedonthebusuntilinstructedtounload.• Pleasestaggerchaperonesthroughoutthegrouptohelpkeepstudentsinlineand

movingquicklytotheseatingarea.• Groupsaredirectedintothetheaterintheorderthattheyarrive.

BEINGSEATED(IMPORTANT!)• Uponenteringthetheater,usherswilldirectstudentsandteacherstositrowbyrow.

Studentswillbeseatedintheorderwhichtheyenterthebuilding.Groupsfromyourschoolmaybeseatedseparatelyfromoneanotherthroughoutthetheatre.Weaskthatatleastonechaperoneisassignedtoevery15studentsforgradesPre-K- 5,andonechaperonetoevery30studentsforgrades5-12.Werecommendthatateacherorchaperonesitattheendofeachrowofstudentsinthetheatre.Withadequateadultsupervision,studentswhichmaybeseatedindifferentsectionsofthetheatrewillhaveenoughchaperonestoensuresafety.Weaskforyourfullcooperationwiththisprocedureinordertostarttheshowontime!

• Pleaseallowtheusherstoseatyourgroupinitsentiretybeforemakingadjustmentswithintherow.Thisallowsustocontinueseatinggroupsthatarriveafteryou.Oncetheentiregroupisseatedyoumayrearrangestudentsinnewseatsandusetherestrooms.

• Schoolsarenotallowedtochangetheirseats.• Allstudentsmustbesupervisedbyateacheratalltimesincludingwhengoingto

therestroom-highschoolstudentsarenoexception.

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DURINGTHESHOW• Thereisnofoodordrinkpermittedinthetheaterorlobbyareas.• Photographyandaudio/videorecordingarenotpermittedduringtheperformance.• Pleaseturnoff(orleavebehind)allelectronicdevices,includingcellphones,portable

games,cameras,andrecordingequipment.Keepthemofffortheentireperformance.Thedevicesmayinterferewiththetheater’ssoundsystemaswellasbeingdisruptivetoboththeaudienceandtheactors.Andplease–notextingorcheckingmessagesduringtheshow!

• Pleasedonotdisturbtheperformersandothermembersoftheaudiencebytalking.• Ifsomethingintheshowismeanttobefunny,laughterisencouraged!• Pleasedonotleaveandre-enterthetheaterduringtheperformance.• Thereisnointermission;visittherestroompriortothestartofthe

show.Performancesgenerallyrun50-60minutes.

EMERGENCYCANCELLATIONSIfschoolsthroughouttheareaareclosedduetoinclementweather,TillesCenterperformanceswillbecancelled.If,onthedaypriortoaperformance,itappearsthatinclementweathermaycauseaperformancetobecancelled,allschoolswillbecalledbyourstafftoalertthemtothispossibility.SchoolrepresentativesshouldperiodicallychecktheTillesCenterwebsite(tillescenter.org)whenwinterweatheradvisoriesandwarningsareineffect.Updateswillbepostedregularlyonthehomepage.Onthemorningoftheperformanceamessagewillbepostedonthewebsitenolaterthan6:30AMindicatingiftheperformancehasbeencancelled.

Ifaperformanceiscancelled,TillesCenterwillattempttorescheduleperformancesonadatemutuallyagreeabletotheartistsandthemajorityofticketbuyers.

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YOURROLEASANAUDIENCEMEMBERTOTHETEACHER:Anessentialcomponentneededtocreatealiveperformanceistheaudience.Pleasetalkwithyourstudentsaboutwhatitmeanstobeanaudiencememberandhowa“live”performanceisdifferentfromTVandmovies.PleasesharethefollowinginformationwithyourstudentspriortoyourvisittoTillesCenter.Someperformancesmayinvolveaudienceparticipationsostudentsshouldbehaveappropriately,giventhenatureoftheperformanceandtherequestsoftheartistsonthestage.Bydiscussingappropriateaudiencebehavior,asaclassaheadoftime,thestudentswillbebetterpreparedtoexpresstheirenthusiasminacceptablewaysduringtheperformance.

BEINGANAUDIENCEMEMBER:Audiencemembersplayanimportantrole—untilanaudienceshowsup,theperformersareonlyrehearsing!Whenthereisa“greathouse”(anoutstandingaudience)itmakestheshowevenbetter,becausetheartistsfeelaliveconnectionwitheveryonewhoiswatchingthem.Whenthe“houselights”(thelightsinthepartofthetheaterwheretheaudienceissitting)godown,everyonefeelsathrillofanticipation.Focusallyourattentiononthestageandwatchandlistencarefullytotheperformance.Themostimportantqualityofagoodaudiencememberistheabilitytorespondappropriatelytowhat’shappeningonstage…sometimesit’simportanttobequiet,butothertimes,it’sacceptabletolaugh,clap,ormakenoise!Iftheaudiencewatchesinaconcentrated,quietway,thissupportstheperformersandtheycandotheirbestwork.Theycanfeelthatyouarewiththem!

Thetheaterisavery“live”space.Thismeansthatsoundcarriesverywell,usuallyallovertheauditorium.Theatersaredesignedinthiswaysothatthevoicesofsingersandactorscanbeheard.Italsomeansthatanysoundsintheaudience-whispering,rustlingpapers,orspeaking-canbeheardbyotheraudiencemembersandbytheperformers.Thiscandestroyeveryone’sconcentrationandspoilaperformance.Donotmakeanyunnecessarynoisethatwoulddistractthepeoplesittingaroundyou.Berespectful!

Applauseisthebestwayforanaudienceinatheatertoshareitsenthusiasmandtoappreciatetheperformers,sofeelfreetoapplaudattheendoftheperformance.Attheendoftheperformance,itiscustomarytocontinueclappinguntilthecurtaindropsorthelightsonstagegodark.Duringthecurtaincall,theperformersbowtoshowtheirappreciationtotheaudience.Ifyoureallyenjoyedtheperformance,youmighteventhanktheartistswithastandingovation!

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AboutEglevskyBalletFoundedbylegendaryNewYorkCityBalletprincipaldancerAndreEglevsky,thisinstitutionhasbeenbringingballeticartistryofthehighestcalibertoLongIslandforover50years.EglevskyBallethaslongbeenrecognizedasaprominent,professionalschoolandcompany.

EglevskyBalletoffersafull-timeprofessionaltrainingprograminitsstate-of-the-artfacility.Additionally,twosummerintensivesandamasterclassseriesthroughouttheyearcompletethedancer’straining.AnannualprofessionalproductionofTheNutcracker,aspringproduction,outreachperformances,andarts-in-educationprogramsallowthecompanyanditsdancerstobringtheartofdancealiveandtotheLongIslandcommunity.

EglevskyBalletprovidesprofessionaltrainingforstudentsofallagesandabilities.Classesareofferedinballet,pointe,modern,jazzandcontemporary.Anaccreditedpre-schoolprogram,designedforagesthreethroughfive,focusesonintroducingtheyoungestdancerstotheartinanenvironmenttailoredspecificallytotheirlevel.Adultclassesinballet,jazzandyogacompletetheprogram.

MissionThemissionofEglevskyballetistoenrichthelivesofitsstudentsandthecommunitythroughtheartanddisciplineofclassicalballet.Bypreservingtherichhistoryofourfoundingdirector,maintainingaprofessionalcompanyandschool,Eglevskyballetwillbringamoreprofoundperformanceexperiencetotheculturallifeofourregionandbeyond.Securingaplaceintheartseducationofnotonlyourstudents,buttheeducationofthoseinundeservedorin-crisissurroundings,webroadenthebaseofserviceforourart,therebymakingitmoreaccessible.Eglevskyballetdesirestocreateanenvironmentwherestudentscanthriveallowingforfurtherdevelopmentbeyondtheclassroom.Additionally,ourunparalleledprofessionalfacultywillbeabletoteachinanenvironmentthatisconducivetotherigorsanddemandsofclassicalballet.Professionaldancers,regisseurs,educators,andchoreographersarealsoencouragedandchallengedtobreathelifeintonewandexistingrepertoire.

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AboutEglevsky’sProductionofTheNutcracker

EglevskyBallet,LongIsland’spremierballetcompanyandacademypresentsitsannualproductionoftheholidayclassic,THENUTCRACKERfeaturingchoreographybythecompany’sexecutiveartisticdirector,MauriceBrandonCurryandstarringUnityPhelan,soloistatNewYorkCityBalletasthe“SugarPlumFairy”andJaredAngle,principaldanceratNewYorkCityBalletasher“Cavalier.”CelebratedfilmandstageactorChrisComfortwillportrayClara’slovableandmysteriousgodfather,“Drosselmeyer.”UnderthedirectionofmaestroDavidBernard,theMassapequaPhilharmonicOrchestrawillplayTschiakovsky’smagnificentscore.

Mr.CurryhasstagedthisproductionofTheNutcrackerasatraditionalone,albeitwithuniquedimensionsaddedthroughout.“EglevskyBallethaslongbeenknownforitsapproachtothistreasuredstory,”saysCurry.“OurproductiondelvesdeeperintothecharactersofClaraandDrosselmeyerandalsoblendsourincrediblytalentedacademystudentsseamlesslywithourprofessionaldancers.Also,theproductionishighlytheatricalwhilekeepingthedancingasthetruestaroftheballet.”

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SYNOPSISIt’sacozyChristmasEveattheStahlbaum’shouse.

TheirhouseisdecoratedwithChristmasornaments,wreaths,stockings,mistletoeandinthecenterofitall,amajesticChristmastree.AstheStahlbaum’spreparefortheirannualChristmasparty,theirchildren,FritzandClara,waitanxiouslyfortheirfamilyandfriendstoarrive.

Whentheguestsfinallyappear,thepartypicksupwithdancingandcelebration.Amysteriousguestarrivesdressedindarkclothing,nearlyfrighteningFritz,butnotClara.ClaraknowsheisGodfatherDrosselmeyer,thetoymaker.Hissurprisearrivaliswarmlyacceptedandallthechildrendanceandcarryonwithlaughter.

ThecelebrationisinterruptedagainwhenDrosselmeyerrevealstothechildrenthathehasbroughtthemgifts.Thegirlsreceivebeautifulchinadollsandtheboysreceivebugles.Fritzisgivenabeautifuldrum,butClaraisgiventhebestgiftofall,theNutcracker.Fritzgrowsjealous,snatchestheNutcrackerfromClaraandplaysagameoftosswiththeotherboys.

Itisn'tlonguntiltheNutcrackerbreaks.Claraisupset,butDrosselmeyerfixesitwithahandkerchief.Drosselmeyer’snephewoffersClaraasmallmake-shiftbedundertheChristmastreeforherinjuredNutcracker.

Thepartygrowslateandthechildrenbecomesleepy.EveryonegenerouslythankstheStahlbaum’sbeforetheyleave.

AsClara’sfamilyretirestobed,shechecksonherNutcrackeronelasttimeandendsupfallingasleepundertheChristmastreewiththeNutcrackerinherarms.

Atthestrokeofmidnight,Clarawakesuptoafrighteningscene.Thehouse,thetree,andthetoysseemtobegettinglarger.Issheshrinking?Outofnowherelargemicedressedinarmyuniforms,ledbytheMouseKing,begintocircletheroomwhilethetoysandChristmastreecometolife.Clara’sNutcrackergroupsthesoldiertoysintobattleformationandfightsthemousearmy.

TheMouseKingtrapstheNutcrackerinthecorner,buttheNutcrackercan’tovercometheMouseKing’sstrength.ClaramakesadesperatemovetosaveherNutcrackerfromdefeatandthrowsherslipperattheMouseKing.Shehitshimdirectlyinthehead!TheNutcrackerisabletoovercomethestunnedMouseKingandclaimsvictory.ThemicearmyquicklycarriesawaytheirKing.

ClarafallsontotheNutcracker’sbed,overwhelmedbythemoment.Asangelsanddelightfulmusichoverovertheirheads,thebedturnsintoamagicalsleigh,floatinghigherandhigher.TheNutcrackeristransformedintoahumanprince(wholooksstrikinglysimilartoDrosselmeyer’snephew).

HegetsonClara’ssleighanddrivesthroughasnowyforestwherethesnowflakesturnintodancingmaidens.

Aftertheirmagicaljourneythroughthesnowforest,theycometotheirdestinationintheLandofSweets.Claracan’tbelievehereyes;ladyfingermountainstoppedwithwhippedcream

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whiterthansnow,sweetlyglazedflowersandbuttercreamfrostingeverywhereshelooks.Upontheirarrival,theyaregreetedbytheSugarPlumFairy.Astheyreenactthenight’sevents,theSugarPlumFairybecomesimpressedwithClara’sbraveryandtheNutcracker’sheroism.Intheirhonor,theSugarPlumFairytakestheminsidetheCandyCastleandthrowsalavishfestival.Theyaretreatedlikeroyaltyandpresentedwitheveryimaginablesweet.Shortlythereafter,thedancingbegins.

HotcocodancestothelivelymusicoftrumpetsandcastanetsoftheSpanishfandango.

ThewomenofcoffeedanceinveilsandmovetheirbodieslikerisingsteamtoanArabiansong,whileMandarinteadancestoanexoticAsianflutechorus.Matryoshkas(Russiandolls)followtheMandarintealeapinganddancingtoaninvigoratingRussianTrepak.

ToClara’senjoyment,thereisstillmoretobeseen.Agiantgingerbreadhouse,knownasMotherGinger,dancesontotheSugarPlumFairy’scourt.Sheopensherskirtandeightlittlegingerbreadchildrencomedancingoutcirclingaroundher.AftertheMirlitondanceisover,thechildrenquicklyfilebackintothelargegingerbreadhouseandMotherGingerleavestheroom.SoonafterMotherGingerexits,thedancingflowersentertothetuneoftheharp.Perhapsthemostbeautifulwaltzshehaseverheard,ClaraandtheNutcrackerPrincewatchwithamazement.TheflowersdanceinbeautifulmesmerizingpatternsasasingleDewdropfloatsabovethem.

Silencequicklyfollowstheendoftheirdance.Claradoesn’tknowwhattoexpectnext.AhandsomeCavalierentersthesceneandescortstheSugarPlumFairytothecenteroftheroom.Theydancetothemostrecognizablesongintheentirework.Thecaptivatingpairdancelighterthanair.ThisbeautifuldancecompletesClara’smostperfectevening.ThefestivalconcludeswheneveryonecomestogetheronthecourtandbidsClaraandtheNutcrackerPrincefarewell.ShetellstheNutcrackershewishestheadventurewouldneverendandhetellsheritwon’tforthosewhohaveaneyetoseeit.

ClarawakesupthenextmorningundertheChristmastreewithherNutcrackerstillinherarms.

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AboutDance&BalletBending,stretching,jumping,andturningareallactivitiesdancersdo;however,dancersworkhardandlongtotransformtheseeverydaymovementsintothelanguageofdance.Balletisdistinctivefromdanceinthatitrequiresaspecialtechnique,establishedalmost500yearsago,involvingstepsandbodymovementsthatareuniquetothisdiscipline.

Themoststrikingfeatureofthetechniqueistheturnoutofthelegsfromthehip.Thisturnoutenablesballetdancerstomovetoeithersideaswellasforwardandbackwithequalease,givingthemcommandoverafullcircleofmovement.Thedancer’sturnoutfromthehipsandstrongfrontalorientationofballetstagingcanbetracedtotheEuropeancourttraditionthatdirectedtheperformancetowardthesovereigninattendance.

Classicalballettechniqueandstepscreatemodernballetsinadifferentway.Thedancerswearsimpleleotardsandtightsandmaydanceinbarefeetorsoftslippers.Inballetswherethereisnostorytofollow,theaudience’sattentionisdrawntowardtheshapeandspeedofthedancers’movementstothemusic.Somemodernchoreographersdon’tevenusemusic;othersmayusesongorspeechtoaccompanytheirsteps.AlvinAiley,TwylaTharp,andWilliamForsythearemodernchoreographerswhohaveusedthesemethods.

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BasicBalletPositionsFirstPosition:Theballsofthefeetareturnedoutcompletely.Theheelstoucheachotherandthefeetfaceoutward,tryingtoformastraightline.

SecondPosition:Theballsofbothfeetareturnedoutcompletely,withtheheelsseparatedbythelengthofonefoot.Similartofirstposition,butthefeetarespreadapart.

ThirdPosition:Onefootisinfrontoftheotherwiththefrontfoottouchingthemiddleofthebackfoot.

FourthPosition:Thefeetareplacedthesameasthirdposition,butonestepapart.

FifthPosition:Withbothfeettouching,thetoesofeachfootreachtheheeloftheother.

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AbouttheComposer

PeterIlyichTchaikovsky1840–1893

PeterIllyichTchaikovskywasborninKamsko-Votinsk,RussiaonMay7,1840.HewasaverybrightchildwhocouldreadRussian,FrenchandGermanbythetimehewassixyearsold.Heshowedaverystronginterestinmusicasayoungchild.Ifhecouldnotfindapianototryoutthemusichemadeup,hewouldusehisfingerstotapouthistunesonthewindowpanesofhishouse.

Peterbegantakingpianolessonswhenhewassixyearsold.Afterattendingboardingschool,hestudiedlawandmathematicsandgotajobasaclerkworkingintheMinistryofJustice.Afterjustfouryearshequithisjobtogotomusicschoolfulltimeinordertostudycomposition.Hewassooninvitedtoteachclasses.

Tchaikovskywasanervous,unhappymanallhislife,yethisbeautifulmusicmadehimthemostpopularofallRussiancomposers.Hewrotethemusicforthethreemostfamousballetsofalltime:TheNutcracker,SwanLakeandTheSleepingBeauty.Duringhislifetime,healsowrotenineoperas,sixsymphonies,fourconcertos,threestringquartets,andnumeroussongs,suites,andovertures.Oneofhismostfamouspiecesisthe1812Overture,whichusescannonsandchurchbellsandoftenaccompaniesfireworksat4thofJulycelebrations.

Tchaikovskywasonly53whenhediedinSt.Petersburgin1893.Hehadjustcompletedhissixthsymphony,whichhefeltwasthebestpieceofmusicheevercreated.

Name: ReviewWorksheet

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Tilles Center for the Performing Arts,Tilles Center for the Performing Arts,at LIU Post in Brookville, is Long Island’s premier concert hall.

Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post in Brookville, is Long Island’s premier concert hall. For 38 years, Tilles Center has been host to more than 70 performances each season by world-renowned artists in music, theater and dance. Tilles Center was the first to bring the New York Philharmonic to Long Island and Bruce Springsteen’s legendary “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” was recorded onsite.

Tilles Center’s Concert Hall seats 2,242 and features orchestral performances, fully-staged operas, ballets and modern dance, along with Broadway shows, and all forms of music, dance and theater from around the world. Thanks to the generous support of Eric and Sandra Krasnoff, the Krasnoff Theater, formerly Hillwood Recital Hall, has been refurbished and expanded to include new cushioned seats, a regraded floor for better views and an improved overall layout.

Tilles Center’s Education Programs are made possible, in part, with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

The School Partnership works with students Pre-K - high school and provides professional development for teachers.

For information about the School Partnership Program, and other performances, visit tillescenter.org or call (516) 299-2752.

2018-19 School District Partners

East Meadow Great Neck Glen CoveRoosevelt

Carle Place Freeport East Williston

The Portledge School (Independent)

Arts Education programs are made possible, in part, by the Gilbert and Rose Tilles Endowment for Arts Education.

School Partnership Program An intensive part of Tilles Center’s Arts Education program is the School Partnership program, modeled on the highly acclaimed aesthetic education program that has evolved over a 35-year period at Lincoln Center. The Partnership is a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning about the arts, applicable to all grade levels and academic disciplines. The Partnership inspires students and teachers to approach the arts with an open mind and to gain insights into the creative process. Attendance at professional performances at Tilles Center is combined with experiential in-school workshops. Led by teaching artists and teachers, students explore their own artistic capabilities while strengthening essential skills – abstract thinking, teamwork, critical judgment, and problem solving. Guided to a deeper level of

understanding, students learn what to look for, and listen to, in a performance or work of art.