OUR STORY

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same; The story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.

When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by Alexander Dumas, a well known French author. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet.

But then..... what if the story was told through Belly Dancing instead? Well.... this is what we are delighted to present to you! :-)

Our version is a special chance to show not only what local audiences might think of as Belly Dancing but also many of the traditional perfoming and folk dances from across the region as well as some creative fusion efforts by local groups that do not usually find their inspirations in the music and dance forms of the Middle East.

OUR story is.....

Act one:
There's a ladies gathering with kids and adults enjoying a lovely evening of music and dance. Drosselmeyer the mysterious toymaker gives Clara, the little girl who lives at the house, a Nutcracker doll. One of her naughty sisters breaks it. Drosselmeyer fixes it, party ends, she goes to sleep.
Magically, the Christmas tree grows tall, dolls come alive, and the Nutcracker comes alive too. Clara sneaks out and sees it all.
Rats arrive and attack! A dramatic fight scene ensues (with Egyptian Tahtib stick fighting Karate-trained Soldiers, of course). Clara throws a zil (finger cymbal), the rat queen dies and the rats scatter.
A portal to other world opens and Clara & the Nutcraker prince fly away on a magic carpet to the Desert Oasis where they are greeted by desert fairies and other inhabitants of the oasis.

Act two:
Clara & Nutcracker move along into the Land of Sweets. They meet the Sugar Plum Fairy (special guest dancer EMILY ALRICK). She dances, they tell of their adventures, she throws a grand celebration! In the celebration we'll have a wide variety of dancers and styles to showcase what our great local dance community has to offer.
Then... there's a finale with everyone, and more dancing by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara gets homesick, all drift away.
Soon Clara wakes up (again as a little girl), and it's a big party onstage. TA-DA!

Nutcracker: Arabian Nights
Saturday, December 3rd, 6:00pm • Sunday, December 4th, 2:00pm
at Redwood Raks
824 L Street, Arcata (Old Creamery Building)
$10.00 General, $8.00 Students/Seniors, $5.00 Children (under 2 free)
- GET TICKETS HERE -