I was four-years-old the first time my mother took me to the ballet. It was in late November, and we went to see The Nutcracker. I've been smitten with the story ever since. Don't ask me who the dancers were because I have no idea, but the face of the Nutcracker Prince for me has always been and will always be Mikhail Baryshnikov. I had three heroes when I was a child: Macgyver, Luke Skywalker, and Mikhail. At least one of them was real.
Mikhail's Nutcracker warms my heart every time I see it. Every time I see a poster of him I wish I was the girl he lifted so tenderly into the air. I dreamed as a child and a young teenager that I was Clara. The ending to his Nutcracker is bitter-sweet, but that it makes all the more real.
So, join me now for Mikhail Baryshnikov's Nutcracker. May you love it as much as I do during this Christmas season.
P.s. If you can, find a DVD copy. I know our library has it, and I'm sure yours does to.
I'm glad you enjoy the Nutcracker.
ReplyDeleteI did go to a performance once, when I was about twelve with the rest of the little girls from the church. It was lovely but... there's no talking! ;)
Awww, how cute that you went with other little girls. I performed in a version when I was around 10 or 11. I was an angel (not that I recall seeing angels in any other version of The Nutcracker). My aunt actually drove four hours to see me in it! It's one of my most exciting memories as a child, performing in my favorite ballet. I had to officially audition and everything!
DeleteJust today, I posted a list of my 10 favorite Christmas movies, and this is on that list! I'm hoping to introduce my kids to it this year -- I suggested we start it today after baking gingerbread, but they wanted VeggieTales instead, the sillies.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted Clara's nightgown-dress, with the sparkly edging. It looks so soft and filmy and comfy.
Laughs! VeggieTales, huh? Well, you can show them culture later. ;) It's so neat knowing someone else who's seen and loves Mikhail's version. It is so gorgeous. And I know what you mean about Clara's nightgown! I always wanted one too, it's just so lovely and magical!
DeleteWhen I was a kid, our PBS station showed this every year, and my mom and I would watch it, though my dad and brother turned up their noses. I've never seen a live production, but maybe someday! That's really awesome that you got to dance in one yourself. Do you still dance?
DeleteIf you ever want to see it live, spend the movie to see a superior performance. It's worth every penny! :)
DeleteI stopped dancing when I was 14. That's when I started on toe shoes and my feet started to bleed and I lost some of the love for the art. I miss it sometimes, a lot, but not enough to subject my toes to that type of abuse again. I'll always love ballet though, whether I dance it or not. :)
I would have stopped too! I'm very fond of my feet, and can't quite get my head around a person's willingness to torture their own feet, I have to admit. Ballet is beautiful, though!
DeleteOh I love the Nutcracker! I've watched the Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (1986) almost every year at Christmas since I was a kid. My parents took me to see it for my birthday when I was a preteen (they also got me new glasses to see the stage, lol).
ReplyDeleteI love that . . . new glasses to see the stage! There is nothing quite like seeing it performed live, especially when it's talented performers. I've never seen the 1986 movie, but I think Netflix has it on streaming so I might settle in tonight and give it a viewing. :)
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