Teacher's Copy What is ballet?

Ballet is a classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures, steps, and poses.

Who was Tchaikovsky? Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) was one of the most loved Russian composers. His melodic gift, orchestral imagination, and ability to touch human emotion made him famous all over the world.

Tchaikovsky's Most Famous Works

Swan Lake: Tchaikovsky's first ballet, it was first performed (with some omissions) at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877. The Sleeping Beauty: This work by Tchaikovsky was first performed in January, 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

The Nutcracker: In Western countries, this ballet has become among the most popular, primarily around Christmas time.

The Story: The Nutcracker Ballet The Nutcracker Ballet tells a story of a little girl named Clara who, at her familys annual Christmas Eve party, is given a prince doll by her beloved godfather, Drosselmeier. The doll is made from a nutcracker and Clara loves it so much that after everyone has gone to bed, she sneaks back down to the Christmas tree to look at it. She falls asleep and begins to dream. **Ask sts: Where is Clara right now? **Define: sneaks In her dream Clara finds her Prince, the Nutcracker, who comes to save her from an army of mice and their King, who tries to kidnap her to his kingdom. **Define: army, kidnap The Mouse King nearly defeats the Nutcracker, but at the last moment Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King and hits him directly in the head and the Nutcracker is able to defeat him. The Nutcracker Prince then leads Clara off to visit his palace. On the way to the palace, they pass through the magical land of the Snow Queen and her Snowflakes, and then through the Land of Sweets, where they are met by the Sugar Plum Fairy, who dances for them, ending with the Waltz of the Flowers. But, all wonderful dreams must come to an end, and Clara awakens the next morning under the Christmas tree with the Nutcracker still in her arms.

What is ballet? Ballet is a classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures, steps, and poses.

Who was Tchaikovsky? Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) was one of the most loved Russian composers. His melodic gift, orchestral imagination, and ability to touch human emotion made him famous all over the world.

Tchaikovsky's Most Famous Works

Swan Lake: Tchaikovsky's first ballet, it was first performed (with some omissions) at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877. The Sleeping Beauty: This work by Tchaikovsky was first performed in January, 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

The Nutcracker: In Western countries, this ballet has become among the most popular, primarily around Christmas time.

The Story: The Nutcracker Ballet The Nutcracker Ballet tells a story of a little girl named Clara who, at her familys annual Christmas Eve ________, is given a prince doll by her beloved ___________, Drosselmeier. The doll is made from a ___________ and Clara loves it so much that after everyone has gone to ______, she sneaks back down to the Christmas tree to look at it. She falls ________ and begins to dream. In her dream Clara finds her _________, the Nutcracker, who comes to save her from an army of __________ and their King, who tries to kidnap her to his kingdom. The Mouse King nearly defeats the Nutcracker, but at the last __________ Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King and hits him directly in the head and the Nutcracker is able to defeat him. The Nutcracker Prince then leads Clara off to visit his ___________. On the way to the palace, they pass through the __________ land of the Snow Queen and her Snowflakes, and then through the Land of Sweets, where they are met by the _______________, who dances for them, ending with the Waltz of the Flowers. But, all wonderful dreams must come to an end, and Clara ___________ the next morning under the Christmas tree with the Nutcracker still in her arms.

BALLET LESSON
I. Pre-Reading: Ask Sts: How many of you like to dance? Sts raise hands. What types of dances do you know? (Tap, Jazz, Swing, Modern, Country Western, Belly Dance, Flamenco, Folk) Does anyone know anything about ballet? What do you know? Ballet mind map on board II. Reading/Listening: Hand out worksheets to students, read sections: 1. What is Ballet? (call on sts to read) Ask sts, Does anyone know the meaning of the word.... grace, precision of movement, elaborate formal gestures 2. Who was Tschaikovsky? (call on sts to read) Ask sts, Does anyone know the meaning of the word.... melodic gift, orchestral imagination 3. Tschaikovsky's Most Famous Works (call on sts to read) ~Listening Activity: Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies~ 4. The Story: The Nutcracker Ballet 1. Read aloud to sts, stopping to check comprehension and define words as needed (notes in teacher's copy of the story). After reading, elicit answers from sts for gap fill activity. Dictate questions on text to sts: Who gave Clara the Nutcracker? (Godfather Drosselmeier) Who tries to kidnap Clara? (The Mouse King and his army) Who dances for Clara and the Nutcracker? (The Sugar Plum Fairy) Sts answer questions individually, answer together as a class. 2. Post-Reading/ Optional Activity: Discussion w/ sts Have you ever had a dream?