Educator Resources

Fireside Nutcracker Virtual Student Matinee Experience

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Thank you for registering to virtually attend the Fireside Nutcracker Student Matinee experience! The performance will be available on YouTube for viewing any time from Dec. 13-17. We will email a link out to everyone the week prior.

Join us for live programs and utilize additional resources below to prepare your students to see the performance! Let us know if you have any questions at education@pittsburghballet.org.

Live Virtual Educational Programs

  • Wed., 12/1/21, 1–1:30 p.m:  InStep Program! Featuring Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre students performing two Act 2 nationality dances.  All grades. Live on Zoom- you’ll receive a link the day prior to the program. (This program has already taken place. See below for the recorded program.
  • Wed., 12/8/21, 2– 2:30 p.m: Dance the Story! A movement activated story time presentation featuring PBT’s The Nutcracker. K–5th grade. This program has taken place. See the link below!

Recorded Educational Videos

  • InStep video – 23 minutes. Featuring demonstration of a ballet class, quick review of The Nutcracker story, performance of two dances from Act 2.
  • Dance the Story video – Students can follow along and participate in a ballet class, listen to The Nutcracker story, and learn choreography from two dances. 24 minutes: ballet class, story and “Waltz of the Flowers” dance, or 35 minutes including the Russian Dance at the end (this dance is more challenging; appropriate for older elementary students).
  • Meet the characters! Hear from PBT dancers themselves in these informal videos. Click here for printable review questions for all three videos.
    • Meet the Sugar Plum Fairy– 17 minutes. PBT principal dancer Alexandra Kochis tells us what it’s like to be the Sugar Plum Fairy and shows us her tutu and pointe shoes! Click here for a timestamp by section- students can view segments you choose or the entire video. (Full video is best for 6th-12th grades; individual excerpts are beneficial for all ages!)
    • Meet Drosselmeyer– 11 minutes. PBT soloist Corey Bourbonniere shares what it takes to dance the role. Best for 5th-12th grades.
    • Meet the Nutcracker and Mouse King–  16 minutes. PBT dancers Cooper Verona and Joseph Parr in a light-hearted chat about the battle scene. Best for 6th-12th grades.
  • The Music of the Season: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with Yoland Collin, PBT principal pianist and music administrator– 51 minutes. Click here for a timestamp by section– students can view segments you choose or the entire video.  (Additional music activities are below.)

Instructional Resources and Materials

Just for Fun!