Posts filed under ‘holidays’
The Nutcracker Act II – Arabian Dance
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The Arabian Dance
‘Coffee’
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quietly subdued
an exotic seduction
she moves like fluid
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where some of my nuts reside….
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I decided to cut and paste this variation – the original lacked a photo, which was due to my lack of poor planning. Last year when I started this project it was supposed to be one post, then it became an entire series.
The photo above is in response to a question asked – where do I keep all of my Nutcrackers? What you see is a shelf, in a hutch, located in my living room. I have lots of Nutcracker items – lots – and these are my most valuable. The one in the very center, on the top shelf – is priceless. In due time, you will discover why…
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enwrapped
¤
as
the sound of holiday cheer
begins to wield its tune,
i can feel myself enwrapped
in
a blustering cold blanket
of
~ blue ~
the return of too many memories
of those
i love
~ no longer here ~
and
the loneliness which taunts my heart
and
drowns my soul
in
tears
¤
¤
¤
My Nutcracker Story
*
once upon a time,
there lived a little girl
whose dream was to be in The Nutcracker –
to dance amongst the snowflakes, flowers and dolls
but
most of all to ‘live’ the role of Clara.
*
she practiced for hours and hours each day,
thought of nothing but ‘becoming the part’ –
of the sweet little girl
whose gift from her grandfather
became a prince
and
who captured her heart.
*
after two years of being a party girl and bunny,
watching Clara dance from the wings –
the day came to pass
when the cast sheet revealed
she would finally come
to realize her dream.
*
there were rehearsals in studios,
rehearsals on stage,
rehearsals with costumes and orchestra,
nights with no sleep,
big blisters on toes –
she was living in a constant state of euphoria.
*
when opening night arrived it was quite the affair,
there was a dynamic which could not be contained –
from the moment the strings played their very first notes
and
the red velvet curtain was raised.
*
the ballet began with a party and guests,
dancing and playing with toys –
until a mysterious gentleman suddenly arrived
with his enchanted dolls for all to enjoy.
*
there was a very unique doll
set aside for last,
to be given to one special girl –
the mysterious man had created a Nutcracker
for his granddaughter
to enrapture her world.
*
Clara was bewitched as she danced
and
she danced
until it was time for the party to end.
as the guests took their leave,
the house became quiet –
it was the moment to forge onward to bed.
*
BUT
Clara was restless,
unable to sleep
so she made her way down the stairs to the tree –
where her Nutcracker stood guard,
the clock struck midnight
with chimes hailing the beginning
of Clara’s magnificent dream.
*
the big stage came alive as the sets disappeared
and
the tree grew over twenty feet tall –
there were regiments of soldiers,
a mouse king with four heads
and
scurrying mice – some very big and a few small.
*
then it happened – it came – the moment of surprise
when the Nutcracker became larger than life.
he fought with his sword
and
his faithful soldiers behind him –
a battle…….with no end in sight.
*
during all of the raucous,
Clara stood on the sidelines
watching
and
thinking of what she could do,
when a thought suddenly occurred –
‘the mice king needs a distraction
why not throw something at him…
something handy…. like a …. shoe’?
*
SO
*
she held her shoe in her hand,
aimed for one of the heads
and
threw as hard as she could –
where upon the king turned away,
a sword met its mark,
ending the reign of the mouse king for good.
*
Clara stood in disbelief as the soldiers and mice
walked away leaving nothing behind
but
a man
who moments before was her Nutcracker –
now a prince leading her on a journey….
way into the night.
*
the end of act one saw the magical forest –
a snow queen and her prince…
then
a flurry of snowflakes prancing on stage
with ‘snow’ falling from an overhead scrim.
*
˜ Intermission ˜
*
act two began with a ride in a sleigh
to the land of fairies, dancing flowers and sweets
and
a story of how Clara saved the Nutcracker’s life –
broke the spell
of a doll he would no longer be.
*
after introductions were made,
the prince called upon
the kingdom to perform for his guest.
the land of sweets
came bursting alive with dancing
and
classical music at its best.
*
as Clara and her prince sat
in a gazebo on stage right,
she knew in her heart
it was more than a ‘dream’ –
the desire she felt was real…
the journey was real…
it was ‘who’
she was meant to be.
*
the young girl wanted to waltz along with the flowers,
wave a fan in black Spanish lace
and
pirouette in a tutu all around the stage
as the reed instruments in the orchestra played.
*
the last to perform was the sugar plum fairy
along with her cavalier
a pas de deux so beautiful –
so magnificent to watch
that Clara’s eyes began to well up with tears
because
Clara knew – the young girl knew –
the grande finale was about to begin,
when all the dancers performed one last time
and
bid farewell to her and the prince.
*
the end of the ballet brought curtain calls,
a red dozen roses with applause
and
stage hands taking apart the sets
and
storing away the props.
*
*
when the night finally came to an end,
the young girl laid awake in her bed –
all she could see were visions of herself
dancing in her head…
…
waltzing along with flowers,
waving a fan in black Spanish lace
and
wearing a tutu
twirling
and
leaping
all around the magnificent stage.
Astier de Villatte Ceramic Figurine
given to me by my mother – 1979
*
*
a brief post script: I really wanted to have this piece completed by Christmas Eve, but it was not meant to be. I began writing this poem back in November. It seems I kept hitting ‘mind’ blocks. Each time I tried to revisit the piece, a haiku was born – thus my Nutcracker haiku series. I am not certain what, but something happened while my boys were home – creative juices, maybe? I must say this is the longest poem I have ever written. I hope you enjoy it.
Weekly Pet Challenge + Wishes of Holiday Cheer
Christmas Eve with Pee
decorating is hard work…..
*
*
being treated like a princess is more like it….
*
*
All of us at the house of Sydnee Pee would like to wish our WordPress family a Wonderful Holiday Season.
Much Love & Hugs
Kimberly, Jordan, Peyton and Sydnee Pee
*
Please come and play…
The Nutcracker Act II – The Finale
≈
The Finale
≈
≈
soaring crescendos
all the dancers on the stage
Clara bids farewell
≈
≈
This poster was issued in 1979.
The Nutcracker Act II – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
§
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
§
§
celesta keys strike
˜
dainty pink pointes enamor
˜
a charming classic
§
§
The celesta, an instrument invented in 1896, gets its name for its “celestial,” tinkling sound. It provides the distinctive music that accompanies the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard.
The Nutcracker Act II Pas De Deux
ξ
The Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier
ξ
ξ
one
spotlight
on stage right.
they stand prepared.
he extends his arm –
she gently takes his hand
stepping onto perfect pointes.
gracefully and delicately
a majestic pas de deux unfolds…
dreams of sugar plums become her desire…..
ξ
ξ
My first year as Clara
December 1978
In 1974, the Cincinnati Ballet Company premiered The Nutcracker. For two years, I sat in the audience – mesmerized. In Summer of 1976, I changed ballet schools and that December I was cast as a party girl and bunny. Many little girls and boys see more than just a ballet while sitting in the audience of a production of The Nutcracker – they discover their heart’s true desire.
my everything
♥
♥
my boys are both here
it is quiet no longer
i am now complete
♥
♥
tiny pictures taken many years ago….
Yes, a complete set and with Sydnee Pee a balance has been achieved. Much laughing, cooking, eating and ‘cleaning’ to be had with lots of tum tum, walkies and cuddles. Life is good.
The Nutcracker Act II – Mother Ginger and Her Polichinelles
♥
Mother Ginger
&
Her Polichinelles
♥
♥
♥
frilly petticoats
little feet beneath her skirt
mother proudly grins
dancing on their tippy toes
sweet and fun wrapped up in one
♥
♥
♥
