George Balanchine's the Nutcracker

Book Description

It's Christmas Eve in 19th century Europe. And on this magical evening, young Clara's eccentric godfather has given her a beautiful wooden nutcracker.As midnight strikes, Clara's wooden toy transforms into a handsome prince, and Christmas quickly becomes even more enchanting. The prince takes Clara on a romantic overnight adventure into a dream world of delicacies called the Land of Sweets.Clara's adventure ends as she wakes up snuggly tucked in her bed. As she embraces her nutcracker, she realizes that the best part of Christmas...is the magic it brings.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful story from my childhood.......2005-11-01

it was christmas 1989 and before the holidays my grade 1 class was studying this book and we even saw the ballet downtown and I thought it was so pretty that my mom bought me the storybook and I really loved all the illustrations and my favourite parts were how big the candies were. I plan to see the ballet again if it plays again in my hometown this christmas.

This Book follows the Ballet every step of the way........2001-08-23

If you have ever gone to the Nutcracker Ballet and didn't quite understand what was going on this book will be a great help. My daughter and I went when she was five. A few months later she found this book at her school library. She couldn't put it down. She wanted a copy of her own. The next year when we went to see The Nutcracker Ballet again she really understood what was going on and said she enjoyed it alot more than the first time she saw it. It is a must for any little girl.

The beautiful pictures bring this memorable story to life.......1998-08-22

My daughter and I were repeatedly drawn back to this book because of the extraordinary illustrations. We have read many versions of this story and have found this one to really bring the ballet to life right before your eyes. The pictures are magical! It's a "must have" for any child who loves the Nutcracker.

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A ballet dancer's review
A Classic Jill Krementz Book
A Very Young Dancer--A Very Great Book!
AN INSTANT CLASSIC!, It Should Be Reprinted...
The Best Book Ever for Young People and Dance

A Very Young Dancer
Jill Krementz
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394408853
Release Date: 1976-10-12

Customer Reviews:

A ballet dancer's review.......2004-12-21

I am a ballet dancer. I have been dancing for 15 years now, and this is still one of my favorite books. I was introduced to it when I was about 5 and it facinated me. The whole story seemed true to what I knew about ballet and Stephanie, the main character, lived my biggest dreams! For years, I only borrowed it from the library, and soon it was one of the most worn in their collection! Finally, we moved away and the next library didn't have it, but Mom found it at a used book store and bought it for me. I ended up meeting David Richards, a teacher in the book, at a ballet competition and he signed it for me. He told me that Stephanie doesn't dance any more, and I don't think she ever made it into New York City Ballet company or any other ballet company. Like I said earlier, I've been dancing 15 years and this book, to me, is even more a true embodiment of what the every-day life of a ballet dancer is! I've known this book so long that I can quote it forwards and backwards, and almest every sentence is or has been true for me! I just finished a run of Nutcracker and, "I tore a little pink ribbon off the pantaloons that I wore in the party scene to keep for a souvenir."-to quote page 118. I am positive that current dancers, former dancers, future dancers, and sancers in their dreams will absolutly love this book, especially because it is so true to what they feel!

A Classic Jill Krementz Book.......2003-11-05

While Jill Krementz is a talented photographer, what my daughter and I really loved about this series was the very detailed text. She was fascinated to learn that each level at the School of American Ballet wears a different color leotard. She sympathized with the dancer who wants a new role in The Nutcracker, but gets the same casting. She learned the difference between a class, a rehearsal, and a performance - all opportunities to dance, but each with a specific purpose.
The original Jill Krementz books, like this one, were printed in black and white. A few later books ("A Very Young Skier") are in full color. But while the color photos look more contemporary and appealing, the later books are "dumbed down" - the text is very short, more like picture captions than narrative.
For the wonderful sense of detail you need the classic titles like "A Very Young Dancer." They make a dancer's life so real, a young reader can easily picture herself (or himself) doing the same. And that's the real power of this series: instead of being a passive spectator, the young reader becomes a participant. My daughter is now dancing in The Nutcracker for her ninth (and last) year. I think "A Very Young Dancer" was a big help along the way.

A Very Young Dancer--A Very Great Book!.......2001-12-03

I am very partial to this book because it was one of my favorites when I was a little girl. I do believe this book is an absolute must-have for any young girl who takes part in the performing arts, particularly ballet. A VERY YOUNG DANCER is about a beautiful little girl named Stephanie who is a student at the prestigious American School of Ballet. We see her learning technique with her fellow students under the direction of David Howard. Eventually, we see her live the dream of many little would-ballerinas as Stephanie is chosen for the part of Mary (or Clara in many versions) in the New York City Ballet's production of the Nutcracker. I think the most important aspect of this book is the message--hard work, determination, and a good attitude are essential for making dreams come true.

AN INSTANT CLASSIC!, It Should Be Reprinted..........2000-10-04

I received this book as a Christmas gift around 1980, I believe. I cannot tell you how much this book meant to me as a girl. I must have read it about 200 times. My mother recently moved and was going through all our childhood things and found the book packed away. She gave it to me. I was so delighted because I thought I'd lost the book years ago. I sat down immediately and read it again. And yep...its still as good as it ever was.

The Best Book Ever for Young People and Dance.......2000-08-11

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. A Very Young Dancer was one of her picks.

This is a story of a girl, Stephanie, who has the starring girl's role in The Nutcracker at age 10. The book is full of wonderful photographs that show ballet as it is experienced by the dancers. The story is written as though by Stephanie, so you see the world from her perspective.

My daughter loved this story so much, that she would beg me to keep reading. I would keep going until my voice was so hoarse I could not continue. And I loved the story, too.

Almost all little girls become interested in ballet at some point. This book is a wonderful way to encourage and expand on that interest while your child is too young to actually begin training. The material in this book can help sustain an interest in ballet later on, either as a dancer or as a fan. It will certainly encourage everyone who reads it to see The Nutcracker performed again this holiday season.

Although the story is focused on Stephanie, she also dances with eleven year old Stephen in The Nutcracker. Other male figures include Shaun O'Brien who plays Drosselmeyer and Stephanie's teacher, David Richardson. So boys who are interested in ballet will also find role models here.

Overcome your misconceptions that being a child star is bad for children with this heart-warming book about learning, growing up, beauty, and sharing with others.

Book Description

Tchaikovsky's Ballets combines analysis of the music of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Nutcracker with a description based on rare and not easily accessible documents of the first productions of these works in imperial Russia. Essential background concerning the ballet audience, the collaboration of composer and ballet-master, and Moscow in the 1860s leads into an account of the first production of Swan Lake in 1877. A discussion of the theatre reforms initiated by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, Director of the Imperial Theatres and Tchaikovsky's patron, prepares us for a study of the still-famous 1890 production of Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky's first collaboration with the choreographer Marius Petipa. Professor Wiley then explains how Nutcracker, which followed two years after Sleeping Beauty, was seen by its producers and audiences in a much less favourable light in 1882 than it is now. The final chapter discusses the celebrated revival of Swan Lake in 1985 by Petipa and Leve Ivanov.

Customer Reviews:

Review of the Book Tchaikovsky's Ballets.......2006-03-27

This is an excellant source for anyone wishing to stage these ballets. It is also comprehensive in it's detail of the origins of the Ballets

Cut & Assemble a Nutcracker Ballet Toy Theater: A Complete Production in Full Color (Models & Toys)

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All you need to play a toy theater ballet!!!
this is a classic!

Cut & Assemble a Nutcracker Ballet Toy Theater: A Complete Production in Full Color (Models & Toys)
Tom Tierney
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486241947

Book Description

Create your own miniature replica of a complete theatrical production of Tchaikovsky’s fantasy classic. 6 backdrops, dozens of colorful characters, depictions of familiar dance sequences, more. Only a few basic materials and tools required. Full instructions and diagram. Synopsis.

Customer Reviews:

All you need to play a toy theater ballet!!!.......2006-01-30

This book is just all you need to play a toy theater ballet. It's another Tom Tierney great work. The best way to enter in the wonderful world of toy theater and a unexcusable piece in your collection. The book have proscenium, stage, courtains, characters and a synopsis of The Nutcracker. It's a "cut & assemble" set, very easy to build and... very fun to play! Highly recomended!

this is a classic!.......2005-10-18

I had this when I was a little girl....I am so happy that it is still being published! Highly recommended for children or adults who enjoy "The Nutcracker Suite" ballet. Beautiful artistry, and hours of fun for your child's creative side.

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Great for ALL ages!
Not suitable for young children
Nutcracker Lover
A book they will remember
Fascinating, for every season

Nutcracker
Maurice Sendak
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0517586592
Release Date: 1991-10-08

Book Description

In Nutcracker, the premier children's book illustrator of our time adds his own magic to a story that has long enchanted children and grown-ups alike. Maurice Sendak created this illustrated version of Hoffmann's wonderful tale, basing his illustrations on the sets and costumes he designed for a dance production staged by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Great for ALL ages!.......2006-12-30

When I was a child I had this book , as well as two audio tape versions of the story. ( one read by Claire Bloom, the other by Christopher Plummer, both are great!) If you go to see the ballet without knowing the backstory it doesn't make much sense.
I also totally disagree that the book ( and the audio versions for that matter) are only good for older children and adults. While the language may be more complex than some story books there is no reason why a young child can't understand it. If parents expose their children to more sophisticated language then they learn it. Toomany books, cds, tv shows etc... talk down to children! If a child is never exposed to language then they can't learn it. My mother and father never talked down or baby talked to me, and exposed me to a wide variety of books, when I was 2 I said "I presume...." in answer to a question my mother asked me. LOL :-)
Just a though.

Not suitable for young children.......2005-12-27

My daughter loves the Nutcracker ballet and I thought it would be good for her to know the full story behind it (I had never heard it myself). The previous reviews and comments on the beautiful illustrations led me to believe this would be a great choice for my 5 year old daughter.

The illustrations are very similar in style to those in Where the Wild Things Are. If you don't like that book, you won't like the illustrations in this one. Also be aware that this is NOT a picture book. There is a very high ratio of text to illustrations.
I also feel the text is inappropriate for young children. The actual story is very dark and the language, while beautiful, is above the vocabulary and experience of most young children. ( "These intrepid and magnificently uniformed troops, consisting of gardeners, Tyroleans, Tunguses, barbers, harlequins, cupids, lions, and tigers, and monkeys, fought with coolness, courage, and perseverance. With their Spartan bravery, this elite regiment would have wrested the victory from the enemy, had not a daring mouse captain leaped into the fray and bitten the head off one of the Chinese emperors, who in falling crushed two Tunguses and a monkey." p32)

I WOULD recommend this book for older children.

Nutcracker Lover.......2005-10-02

Excellent book and an all time favorite for Christmas or any time...............The needed companion for the ballet !

A book they will remember.......2004-09-23

This book is beautiful! I received the first edition as a Christmas gift as a child. I cherished it, reading it over and over again. Sendak's illustrations and Hoffman's engaging story are still vivid in my memory. I bought two copies of this re-issue, one for my 3-year-old son and one for my 4-year-old niece. This is what all children's books should aspire to. A wonderful gift for any child.

Fascinating, for every season.......1997-06-10

This book was a gift to my family when I was a child - I loved it then, and enjoy it more every time I re-read. The story is more than just the plot for a ballet. There is a lot of background, description, and insight included, and they do a lot to make the book fantastic. What elevates this work to magnificent is the artwork done by Sendak. It is lush, detailed, and beautiful. I can't say enough about the quality of this book, and urge everyone to find their own copy. This is not just a Christmas story, but a wonderful parable for every season

The Nutcracker: Complete Ballet for Solo Piano

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Poor Quality
Finally

The Nutcracker: Complete Ballet for Solo Piano
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486438120

Customer Reviews:

Poor Quality.......2006-12-08

The music itself is magnificent, and I must thank the last reviewer on an excellent post. However the quality of the book is quite poor. The binding is cheap and the pages are very thin and have a newsprint feel making quick page turns difficult. I recommend having the book spiral- bound at an office supply store. For the everyday pianist, the book is great, however the professional ballet accompanist should seek out a higher-quality score.

Finally.......2006-03-13

This is a book I've been looking for for years: the original piano arrangement of the entire Nutcracker Ballet score. The score harbors many delightful pieces that are not included in the ubiquitous Nutcracker Suite, such as the music for the scene around the Christmas tree, Grandfather's Dance, the Pas de Deux, and the Valse Finale. The arrangements are by Taneeff, and revised by the composer. The score has been reprinted from a rare copy in 2005. The piano arrangement is playable for advanced amateur pianists (this is NOT a Nutcracker-made-easy version), and cleverly done: it has the feel of a piano score, not of a reduced orchestra score. (Nutcracker lovers familiar with the Concert version of the ballet music will find slight (and interesting) discrepancies, but the music from the Concert version is all there, albeit in a somewhat different order. The only funny part of the arrangement is that the upper register seems to have been left out in the complex music of the fight between the nutcracker and the mouse king.)

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Mary-kate and Ashley - The Nutcracker Ballet

The Case of the Nutcracker Ballet
Mary-Kate; Stine, Megan; Olsen, Ashley Olsen
Manufacturer: Harper Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060093420

Book Description

Ashley's Detective Notebook

I was going to dance in the Nutcracker Ballet -- but someone stole my friend Miranda's ballet slippers!
Was it the sticky fingers of the Sugar Plum Fairy? Or did the Toy Soldier march off with them?
Or was it a prank played by our prancing Prince?

Customer Reviews:

Mary-kate and Ashley - The Nutcracker Ballet.......2003-11-09

When all-star detective Ashley Olson gets a small part in the Nutcracker Ballet something fishy starts to happen.First the key dancer, Carla finds her ballet shoes missing. From there everything goes down hill. Can the Olson twins solve it all in time?!? I found this book to be easy to yet very interesting to read.I would advise any kid who likes mysteries.

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Jan Brett is phenomenal!!!
A perfect old-fashioned story

Noelle of the Nutcracker
Pamela Jane
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0395399696

Book Description

From the moment she sees Noelle, the beautiful ballerina doll in the toy store window, Ilyana knows that Noelle is the Christmas present she wants more than anything in the world. But Noelle has a dream of her own: to be a real ballerina, performing on stage for adoring fans. When the Imperial Ballet Company chooses Noelle to be the doll that Clara, the little girl in The Nutcracker, finds under the Christmas tree, it seems that Noelle's dream is the one that will come true. Then, an unexpected setback makes Noelle realize that maybe, for a doll, being loved by one little girl is the best dream of all.

Customer Reviews:

Jan Brett is phenomenal!!!.......2007-01-16

Jan Brett is a wonderful author and, even more so, a phenomenal artist and illustrator. Her characters are playful and fun and easily loved by her young readers. My grandaughter's favourite, Annie and the Wild Animals, has been read a hundred times. I've collected a number of Jan Brett's books and hope to pass them on to my great grandchildren!!!

A perfect old-fashioned story.......2001-06-11

This is a book that makes you think back to your own childhood. To times that were simpler, sweeter, and full of dreams. The writing is a dream, and the story is perfect for the little girl on your Christmas list. What little girl today, even in the age of computers and scooters, doesn't love a doll, one, doll, a special doll, more than anything else? Pamela Jane captures the mystery of childhood, the dream of dance, and the promise of the imagination.

Nutcracker Ballet Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives)

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Nutcracker Ballet Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives)
Brenda Sneathen Mattox
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486440222

Book Description

Thirty beguiling illustrations tell the delightful story of a little girl's love for an enchanted nutcracker, with scenes depicting Christmas Eve at Clara's house, the dancing Sugar Plum Fairy, adventures in the Land of Sweets, and more.

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