Nutcracker Theme Day
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Son of a Nutcracker! It’s Christmas season and there are so many fun opportunities for theme days. One of my absolute favorites is the Nutcracker, so it’s no surprise that this theme day plays out a little more like a full unit study.
We LOVE the Nutcracker around here and begin Nutcracker season in September as I prepare for my dance studios annual performance. It is such a fun season for me as my daughter performs in the show as well as my 4 nieces and nephews! We practice every Saturday from September to Thanksgiving and then have a whole weekend of shows. By the time the performance weekend arrives it is Christmas season and we love watching a variety of Nutcrackers.
I thought our love for Nutcracker is a great jumping off point for helping you create an entire theme day!
Nutcracker Ballet
As a ballet dancer and educator, I’ve watched and been involved in live Nutcracker productions for over 30 years! I have a deep love and connection to the ballet and the Christmas season. My first suggestion is always to see a live production and support a local dance company. The studio I teach for puts on an excellent student performance, hiring professionals for lead roles, and using a live orchestra. It is a magical event. However, there are many alternatives nowadays if it is not possible to get to a live production (hello 2020!).
Live Stream
Support a performing arts business by live streaming a production! This is such an amazing opportunity to support these suffering business shut down by Covid while providing an enriching experience for the whole family.
San Francisco Ballet - this is one of my favorites and what we will be watching this year
Pacific Northwest Ballet - the company used to create the 1986 movie version as a collaboration with author/illustrator Maurice Sendak. I remember watching this on television every year as a little girl.
New York City Ballet - the company that performed the 1993 movie version with Macaulay Culkin.
North County Academy of Dance - this is my dance studio! Support this small, family run studio and all the work that was put into getting our kids on stage despite the many obstacles in our way!
Movies
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms - a different take on the classic story, fun and imaginative, but not much ballet. Available on Disney Plus.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker - the 1993 version with Macauley Culkin, a fun one for kids who have seen Home Alone! Available on Amazon Prime Video.
Nutcracker: The Motion Picture - the 1986 version. Available on Amazon Prime Video.
Books
Over the years I have collected many beautiful Nutcracker books to share with my students and now to keep for my children. My almost 3 year old son is obsessed with the books and asks to read one daily. We even had to borrow one we don’t own from the library! Here are our favorites:
Music Study
The Nutcracker would be nothing without the music, so it seems essential to include a study of Tchaikovsky and his most recognized music. The music is readily available on Spotify, one of my favorite recording is by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. You can listen to the different pieces and explore moving to the different sounds, rhythms and feelings of each. Compare and contrast the smooth, bright flow of Waltz of the Flowers to the dark, slow Arabian. Read about the life and career of Tchaikovsky, his catalogue of music is quite impressive!
There are many wonderful unit studies to help you dive deeper into the music portion of a Nutcracker theme day:
SQUILT - Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time
The Story Orchestra Nutcracker - it’s actually a book, but a super wonderful visual and auditory study of the Nutcracker music.
Crafts
With such a fun theme and story, there are so many craft opportunities! Sometimes focusing on a favorite part of the story will help you decide on the best crafts for your theme day. This year, my daughter and I decided to make a lighted Snow Queen Tutu Wreath! In years past, we’ve made:
Treats
After the epic battle scene, Nutcracker defeats the Mouse King, transforms into a human, takes Clara through the land of the snow to his home at the Candy Kingdom. Once there, the Sugar Plum Fairy calls for a huge celebration and asks sweets from around the world to dance for Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. Set an elaborate table and get creative representing the divertissement:
Spanish Chocolate
Chinese Tea
French Marzipan
Arabian Coffee
Russian Candy Canes
I hope your family finds a way to make Nutcracker a magical tradition for years to come!
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