Lectures For Lifelong Learners!

Life in Tsarist Russia of the late 19th-century could be oppressively dreary, but many city dwellers found escapist outlets in operas and ballets based on fantasy and fairy tales. The best-loved of all from this time is Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, the story of a girl who falls asleep after a Christmas party and experiences a series of fanciful dreams, including one that leads her into the arms of her first boyfriend. In this class, we’ll explore the background of the story, the types of dance pieces that make up a traditional Nutcracker performance, and Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary music for his ballet, which was carefully crafted to help lift dancers off their feet and push them across the floor.