12/7/14: Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker and Story Hour

CONTEST CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS ROBIN R FOR WINNING!
Today we got to do something that all little Ballerinas dream of.  We got to go to the the Boston Ballet for a Story Hour and to their presentation of Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker.  Lauren brought one of her dancing friends and they had a blast!  The show runs until December 31st so make sure to get your tickets now.  Read on and you can win four tickets to select shows!

We started at the Boston Ballet in Back Bay for a Story Hour.  The girls could not wait to go!

An instructor from the Boston Ballet gave the kids an overview of what the show would be about.  Did you know that the Boston Ballet offers free The Nutcracker Story Hours in the Newton and North Shore Studios?  Go here to learn more and see the schedule.

Plus they handed around tiaras from the show and pointe shoes and showed them some costumes.  There are over 350 costumes in the show.

 Here is Lauren trying on the tiara.

Then they got to dance themselves.

 Lauren was extremely excited and kept volunteering.  She loved this.

The instructor is a Boston Ballet instructor and went over some of the steps from the show.  Here are the girls marching.

Lauren even heard a secret that you need to lift your arms to make your leaps go higher.  She was able to share it with all of us.

 Here she is leaping with her arms up.  I see her training in ballet since age 2 is paying off.

 Then they got to peek in to another studio where class was going on.  All their classrooms have springy floors which is great for dancing.

 Love this with all the little girls peeking in.

 Lauren and her friend in the biggest studio the Boston Ballet has.  This one is upstairs and is the size of the Boston Opera House stage and allows them to practice with full blocking.

 Lauren posing at the bar for me in one of the studios.

 Here is Lauren with the instructor.  Lauren really liked her and Lauren is now convinced she will dance with her next year in class.

Here is some video of their fun dancing.

The fun didn't end there.  It was just beginning.  Then we got to go to the show at the Boston Opera House.  I have loved this show since I was little and even danced to some of the songs from the show myself when I did ballet.  Lase year Lauren and I saw the show so I knew how much she loved it.  
You can buy tickets here. 

I was not allowed to take pictures during the show however The Nutcracker did share some images with me that I could utilize in my post.  I will share that as you walk up the stairs to the Boston Opera House if you go to the right you will have a photo opportunity with the Bear and Rabbit.  Even if you have Orchestra seats just walk up the stairs to the right side.  Here is one of my favorite scenes.  With the snow falling and the beautiful dancing it gives me chills every time I see it.

Show Photos Provided by the Boston Ballet

There are 44 performances of the show with each performance including 150 dancers.  This year's production features the full company at its largest size of 60 Company dancers, 9 Boston Ballet II dancers, and over 250 Boston Ballet School students in the production.  There are 250 children who are classical ballet students from the Boston, Newton and North Shore studios making up three or four casts.  “Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker is based on the libretto by Alexandre Dumas père titled The Tale of the Nutcracker, which is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” 

The dancing is absolutely phenomenal!  The Christmas tree is 42 feet 6 inches tall and there are 766 fiber optic points embedded in the big Christmas tree and there are 600 ornaments.

This newer version of the show premiered in 2012 and it is phenomenal.  I love that there were so many families at the show.  This would be a great family tradition for the holidays.

I personally love the Bear and the Rats.  It is amazing that they can dance in these costumes.  It must be so hard.

 The girls with their yummy cookies they got during intermission.  The show is about 2 hours.

 You don't need reasons to go other than it is an outstanding show, but if you want to read the Top 10 Reasons to Go See The Nutcracker you can read that here.

 You can also watch a preview video of the show here.  These two little girls loved it and so did I!

I highly suggest taking the family to see it and starting a family tradition or continuing one if you already have been. Enter below to win four tickets to your choice of the following dates:

Tue, Dec 16 @ 7:30 pm 

Wed, Dec 17 @ 7:30 pm 

Thu, Dec 18 @ 1pm or 7:30 pm

Follow Boston Ballet on Twitter:  @BostonBallet  #BBNutcracker2014

Like them on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bostonballet

Disclosure:  I was provided with tickets for this show to attend.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

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