Educator Resources: The Nutcracker Student Matinee

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Thank you for bringing your students to The Nutcracker student matinee on Dec. 9!

Utilize the resources below to prepare your students to see the performance! Let us know if you have any questions at education@pittsburghballet.org.

Instructional Resources and Materials

Guide to the ballet: Teacher Resource Guide, which includes general information on the ballet and PBT’s version of The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker story: A slide show story of the ballet illustrated with PBT photos. This is a quick and easy way to preview the ballet for your class.
Pittsburgh Connections flyer.
Content area connections: See below for ideas to connect the ballet to your curriculum (adaptable as needed to meet the needs of your students).
- Music activity ideas
  - Explore the celesta
  - How can music help tell the story of the ballet?
  - Familiarize your students with the score of the ballet with links to musical excerpts from the ballet and use the activity ideas to help discuss the characteristics of these works.
  - Reinterpreting music (listen to two versions of The Nutcracker Suite)
- Choreography activities
  - Five basic positions of ballet
  - Explore ballet mime
  - Analyze the “Sugar Plum Fairy Pas de Deux”
- Arts and humanities activity ideas (writing prompts and more!)
  - Design a Snowflake Costume Worksheet
- Quick learning activities that shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
Do’s and Don’ts of Theater Etiquette: prepare your students for a trip to a theater with these know-before-you-go tips.
Take-home flyer: Informational flyer for families to print and send home with students!

Recorded Educational Videos

Meet the characters! Hear from PBT dancers themselves in these informal videos. Click here for printable review questions for both videos.
- Meet the Sugar Plum Fairy– 17 minutes. Former 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.
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.

Just for Fun!