Which Performance of Clara's Dream Should You Go To?

While all performances are exciting, there are some things you might want to consider when deciding which show you'd like to attend. If your calendar is leaving you with a couple options for which day you see Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story, here are somethings to keep in mind about each show time.

Thursday, December 5th, 7:00 pm

Opening Night! For me, nothing quite beats the energy that performers have on opening night. Their legs are fresh, they've got a good flow of nervous energy going, and this often leads to just explosive amounts of energy on stage.  Opening night also happens to be a Thursday, so you can keep your weekend open for other activities. The show is just over an hour long, so you can be home and in your PJs by a reasonable time. If you want to grab dinner before the show at one of the many eateries walking distance from the theater, they won't be nearly as crowded as they would be on a Friday. 

Friday, December 6th, 7:00 pm

Some of the major roles in this ballet are double cast, so you'll still get that same first-show energy from many of the principal dancers.  That is not to say that you won't get energy from all the other cast members, but they won't be quite as nervous, having worked through some of their jitters the night before.  Plus, what better way to end your busy week than by relaxing at the ballet? Grab dinner before the show, or drinks after, make it a fun night out! Get a group of friends together, since it's an evening show, if you're looking for a nice, quiet, night-out there will probably be fewer children at this show than at the Saturday shows. 

Saturday, December 7th, 1:00 pm

This show is sure to be exciting, Because it's an early-afternoon show the audience will be full of families and children.  If you have kids, take advantage of Clara's Tea before the show, but tickets are selling out fast, get yours soon. Kids help create a really energetic audience, this fuels the dancer's performance. As a performer, there is no better feeling than performing for an audience full of kids, and as an audience member, you'll feel it too. Tickets for this show are selling really fast, so get yours soon!

Saturday, December 7th, 4:00 pm

The closing performance, similar to Opening Night, dancers kick it into high gear for this show to end the first half of the City Center Ballet season with a bang! And, like the 1 pm show, the audience will also be full of kids and families, further energizing the dancers.  There is also a Clara's Tea connected with this show, again tickets are selling fast, so don't wait to get them. By this show the dancers have really worked out any small kinks that came-up, and they are ready to give the show everything they have left.

So look at your calendar, and pick the show that best fits your theater style! Each show will be wonderful.  The cast has worked very hard to bring this production to a new level, so come out and support the Upper Valley's Ballet Company on December 5th, 6th, and 7th at The Lebanon Opera House!

Tickets for Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story can be purchased on the Lebanon Opera House website  or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400.  Read this post for information on group ticket pricing. Get your tickets soon for preferred seating! Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, tea tickets include tickets to the show following the tea.

**Note that as of 11/22/2013 Tickets to Clara's Tea for the 1pm show are SOLD OUT, there are still a few tickets left to Clara's Tea for the 4pm show**

I'll see you at the ballet!

Win Two Tickets to Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story

City Center Ballet is giving away two tickets to Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story for the Thursday evening performance. There are a couple ways you can enter to win! First, share a story about one of your family's holiday traditions in the comments section of this post for one entry. Then share this post on facebook for a second entry, To share, head over to the City Center Ballet Facebook page and share the status containing this post with your facebook friends! It should be fun to hear some stories from our reader and their friends!

There are so many unique family traditions, for everyone at City Center Ballet Clara's Dream has become a wonderful tradition, dancers and their families look forward to it every year.  For many community members in the Upper Valley attending Clara's Dream and/or Clara's Tea has become a tradition as a magical start to a busy holiday season.

We are looking forward to hearing your holiday stories, Ticket winners will be drawn on December 1st, for two tickets to the Thursday, December 5th performance of Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story at 7pm at the Lebanon Opera House.

Don't forget to "Like" City Center Ballet on Facebook!

Clara's Dream - a nutcracker story

So there have been many references to Clara's Dream on this blog already, but what's the story?  Because there is no talking in ballet, it's usually a good idea to have a basic understanding of the story you're about to see before attending the performance, this makes it easier to understand what is happening on stage so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the performance.

Clara's Dream- a nutcracker story is City Center Ballet's adaptation of The Nutcracker, however they have tightened up the story to fit it into one act to maintain the attention of younger children.  The Nutcracker is a Christmastime story, and attending this ballet annually grows into a tradition for many families, so City Center Ballet has gone that extra step to make this ballet even more family friendly.

Here's an outline of what will unfold on stage at The Lebanon Opera House on December 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2013:

The curtain rises on a sleeping Clara, a young girl whose family just hosted a Christmas Party, she had a long day and has fallen asleep in an arm chair. It had been an exciting day full of treats and sweets and lots of merry dancing.   Her Godfather, Heir Drosselmeyer, was a surprise guest at the party. Drosselmeyer, a magician and toymaker, brought gifts for all the children in attendance. Drosselmeyer presents Clara with a carved nutcracker doll, which she cherishes immediately. As the curtain rises Clara awakens and rises to check on her new nutcracker doll, Heir Dorsselmeyer appears and performs some magic on the nutcracker.  Suddenly, something begins to happen, either Clara and Drosselmeyer are shrinking or the entire living room is growing, and then Clara's Nutcracker appears to have come to life! But wait, something is not right, Clara's now gigantic living room has filled with giant mice with a Rat King as their leader! Magically, toy soldiers emerge from under the Christmas Tree and a battle between The Nutcracker and the Rat King, and their minions ensues. Clara is terrified, suddenly it seems the Rat King is about to defeat her Nutcracker! In a moment of quick thinking Clara distracts the Rat King, who is then quickly killed by her Nutcracker. 

Victorious, Clara's Nutcracker transforms into a Prince and escorts his heroine away.  Outside in a pine forest near Clara's home  it begins to snow, the King and Queen of the Snow dance as Clara and her Prince enter the forest.  Suddenly it begins to snow harder and a group of Snowflakes dance gracefully around Clara and her Prince.  Eventually the Snow King and Queen emerge again and guide Clara and her prince on through the forest. 

Clara and her Prince arrive in the Land of Sweets and are greeted by The Sugar Plum Fairy and a group of angels, they are so thankful that Clara helped to defeat the Rat King, they present her with gifts and show Clara and her Prince to a throne. Then, the Pastry Chefs arrive to delight their eyes with treats and sweets from around the world.  First come the hot beverages, Hot Chocolate from Spain, Arabian Coffee, and Chinese Tea, then suddenly Russian Candy Cane Dancers emerge from Fabergé Eggs, Marzipan from Denmark arrives on a beautiful cake, Finally the Pastry Chefs, from Germany, dance for Clara and her Prince. Suddenly a beautiful  string of flowers arrive, and Waltz of the Flowers  begins, staring The Dewdrop Fairy.  To conclude the performance The Sugar Plum Fairy  herself, escorted by her Cavaleir, perform a dance, to some of the most iconic music from the ballet. 

All the sweets from all the countries come together for one final dance to usher Clara and her Prince out of their land. Clara wonders, did this really happen, or was it all just a wonderful dream?

Tickets for Clara's Dream- a nutcrracker story can be purchased on the Lebanon Opera House website  or by calling the Box Office at (603)448-0400.  Read this post for information on group ticket pricing. Get your tickets soon for preferred seating! Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, tea tickets include tickets to the show following the tea.

**Note that as of 11/22/2013 Tickets to Clara's Tea for the 1pm show are SOLD OUT, there are still a few tickets left to Clara's Tea for the 4pm show**

Have you heard about Clara's Tea?

Tables full of Tea Party goodies to delight everyone
and get you into the holiday spirit before the show!

Clara's Tea is a wonderful tradition that has grown with City Center Ballet's Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story.  This event is organized every year with a lot of hard work from the City Center Ballet staff and volunteers (Thank you dancer parents!). Monies raised from this event feed directly back into the company to pay for costumes, lights, scenery, props, and yearly maintenance for all those things essential to the day-to-day functioning of our not-for-profit company. This year Clara's Tea is on Saturday, December 7th at 11:30 am (before the 1 pm performance) and 2:30 pm (before the 4 pm performance).

Clara's Tea takes place at Lebanon Ballet School, the ballet school
 of City Center Ballet. It sells out every year, get your tickets soon!

Clara's Tea is an opportunity for kids to meet some of the cast members of Clara's Dream, enjoy some tea (or juice) and little goodies before the show! It's a little bit like Disney's Character Breakfast! Kids can ask the dancers about their rolls, and get their photo taken. Let your children dress-up and enjoy High-Tea before an experience at the ballet. This is the ultimate theater experience, and a rare opportunity to get photos with some of the dancers in costume!

Let the City Center Ballet Pastry Chefs make your Tea Party with Clara a fabulous experience!

Tickets for Clara's Tea can be purchased on the City Center Ballet website, the ticket price for Clara's Tea includes a ticket to the Clara's Dream-a nutcracker story performance immediately following The Tea.  All Tea attendees are given prime seating at the Lebanon Opera House.  Tickets sell out every year...Get yours NOW!