The Original Nutcracker

Last week I took my children (11, 8 and 4) to a production of The Nutcracker at Meydenbauer in Bellevue. It was for schoolgroups, so it was a shortened version, but they LOVED it, and asked to go see the ballet in it’s entirety. And anything “classical ballet” that my boys love – I’m all for! (Of course, the fight scenes and calvary were awfully enticing!)

What I liked about this particular performance was that it was at Meydenbauer in Bellevue, so the venue was much smaller; just over 400 seats. Everyone could see. The sets, costumes and soloists were from Russia. And the sets, costumes and choreography were all copied from the orginals used at the theatre in St. Petersberg.  Passed down through generations for more than a century, this version of The Nutcracker ballet preserves the classical artistry first created by Tchaikovsky and Petipa in St. Petersburg in 1892.

With the exception of the soloists, all the performers are local, and my children were fascinated watching other children on stage. If you have a group of 10 or more, tickets for children are just $21.25, and $42.50 for adults. There is a 2:00 show on the 23rd, which would be a great time to gather a group of friends, and take your children.

At some point, I want my kids to see the big production in downtown Seattle. But this show by the International Ballet Theatre is a great introduction to the orginal Nutcracker. To purchase tickets, visit their site.

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who is currently recovering from a totally smashed nose received in a direct hit from the back of her sister’s head during a tandem sled ride on Mt. Baker yesterday.