The Nutcracker Act II – The Finale

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The Finale

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soaring crescendos

all the dancers on the stage

Clara bids farewell

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me – Act I – center stage – before the tree starts to grow

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The photo above was taken from a special souvenir photo book which was created for the 1981 Nutcracker Season.  After spending my Sunday afternoon digging through boxes, I found this gem amongst many, many other treasures.  This photo was taken in 1979.

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I hope you have enjoyed my series of pieces inspired by The Nutcracker Ballet.  As a child, the holidays were The Nutcracker. As an adult, they are very special memories – ones which I will never, ever forget.  Just ask my boys….they hear the same stories year after year, after year, after year…..and it looks like y’all will be suffering the same fate!

shiny bits

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finishing touches

accoutrements of splendor

remnants of a past

worn under lights of a stage

priceless jewels from a dream

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pieces of my Flower costume

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Note:  I did not vandalize my costume – after 12 years of lots of sweat, hair spray, wear and tear, cleaning and constant mending (in other words, costumes live a very ‘difficult’ life) – bits and pieces have a tendency to fall off.  The flower, which was made by hand, fell off of my headpiece.  The pink shiny thing fell off of my bodice and the earrings – well, those were worn for many ballets, actually.  I did not have pierced ears…yet.  (By the way, the trick to keeping clip and/or screw on earrings on one’s ear lobe – eye lash glue)

 

the overture

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his score calls my name

i am summoned to the stage

home – where i belong

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photo taken for The Cincinnati Enquirer in December 1998 – studio rehearsal for The Nutcracker – the battle scene

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waiting…in the wings

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ξ

anxiously awaiting their cue

they stand single file

tutus poofed, ribbons secured

calling all dancers………PLACES!

ξ

a corps de ballet of seven weeping willows

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takes two…to tango

ξ

ς

he draws her in with the palm of his hand

pressing deeply into the small of her back ∼

with a gaze that pierces straight through to her core

commanding the nuances

of each step

and

each breath.

ξ

his movement is precise

as each step glides across the floor,

creating waves ∼ of motion

with abandon

yet

control.

he allows his partner to extend

far beyond his reach,

then grabs her close ∼

clutching her thigh against his hip.

ς

their intensity is relentless as their bodies move as one ∼

both immersed in each others touch

with a close embrace never forsaken.

they create a display of beauty ∼

stirring passion

and

desire

and

an elegance ∼

so provocative,

so fervent

yet

refined.

ξ

ς

 

a singular moment

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briefest of moments…

anticipation flutters

alone  – not lonely

purest of joy becomes strength

before the curtain rises…

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Paquita – 1987

dedicated to the artist in us all

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.

The Nutcracker Act II – The Finale

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The Finale

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soaring crescendos

all the dancers on the stage

Clara bids farewell

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This poster was issued in 1979.

The Nutcracker Act II – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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celesta keys strike

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dainty pink pointes enamor

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a charming classic

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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

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The Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier

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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.