«The Nutcracker»

Music: Peter Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Vasiliy Vaynonen

 Act 1

The action takes place in an old German town, at the beginning of the 19th century. It is Christmas Eve, and the streets of the town have a holiday air. The house of the Stahlbaum family is brightly illuminated. Guests assemble in the festively decorated drawing-room. Drosselmeyer enters.

The celebration is interrupted as Drosselmeyer performs magic to entertain the children: he shows two life-size dolls - Clara and the Nutcracker. The dolls dance together and it is apparent that the Nutcracker is a gallant and honorable young man. He declares his love to Clara and Clara returns his love.
Suddenly the Mouse King appears and falls on the Nutcracker. Clara turns away from him. Drosselmeyer takes off his mask and Masha recognizes his godfather. Drosselmeyer reveals to the children that he has brought them gifts. Then the guests pass into the dining-room. The drawing-room becomes empty....
Only Masha stays with the broken Nutcracker. She caresses and comforts her favorite toy. She imagines that it's her cavalier and dances with him.
As the evening grows late, the children become sleepy. Everyone generously thanks the Stahlbaums before they leave. As Masha's family retires to bed, she checks on her Nutcracker one last time and ends up falling asleep with it in her arms. In her dream Masha sees the drawing-room and the Christmas tree again. All the objects assume a fantastic appearance. A mouse scurries out of a hole, then lots of mice scamper out from everywhere. The Mouse King himself enters. But here the Nutcracker, at the head of his regiment of tin soldiers, comes forward in defense of Masha. Drawing up his little army, he leads it into attack. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King. The Nutcracker is defeated. Overcoming her fear, Masha runs up to the Nutcracker and saves him. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body. The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

Act II

Drosselmeyer works his magic again: The Nutcracker escorts Mary to the Land of Sweets but the mice led by the Mouse King bar their way. This time the Nutcracker gains a victory over the Mouse King anew. The lights go out and the toy is transformed into a human prince. Masha can't believe her eyes .She is happy. She dances with her prince.

But the night is nearing the end. The festival concludes when everyone comes together on the court and bids Masha and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. She tells the Nutcracker she wishes the adventure would never end and he tells her it won't for those who have an eye to see it. Masha believes that this Christmas night is not a dream.