Famous Ballet

Synopsis

Contents Synopsis of Swan Lake .................................................................................................................... 1

Act I ............................................................................................................................................. 1

Act 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 1

Act 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 2

Act 4 ............................................................................................................................................ 2

Synopsis of Nutcracker Ballet ......................................................................................................... 3

Act I ............................................................................................................................................. 3

Act II ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Synopsis of Sleeping Beauty ........................................................................................................... 5

Act I ............................................................................................................................................. 5

Act II ............................................................................................................................................ 6

Act III ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Synopsis of Swan Lake

Act I

Prince Siegfried arrives at his 21st birthday celebration on the palace courtyards

to find all of the royal families and townspeople dancing and celebrating, while

the young girls are anxiously seeking his attention. During the exquisite

celebration, his mother gives him crossbow and informs him that because he is of

age now, his marriage will be quickly arranged. Hit with the sudden realization of

his future responsibilities, he takes his crossbow and makes haste to the woods

with his hunting buddies.

Act 2

Getting ahead of the group, Prince Siegfried finds himself alone in a peaceful spot

by an enchanted lake where swans gently float across its surface. While Siegfried

watches, he spots the most beautiful swan with a crown on its head. His buddies

soon catch up, but he orders them to leave so he can be by himself. As dusk falls,

the swan with the crown turns into the most beautiful young woman he has ever

seen. Her name is Odette, the Swan Queen. She informs the young prince that an

evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart, who so happens to be disguised as Prince Siegfried’s

mentor, has turned her and the other girls into swans and that the lake was

formed by the tears of their parents' weeping. She tells him that the only way the

spell could be broken is if a man, pure in heart, pledges his love to her. The

Prince, about to confess his love for her, is quickly interrupted by the evil

sorcerer. He takes Odette from Prince Siegfried’s embrace and commands all of

the swan maidens to dance upon the lake and its shore so that the prince cannot

chase them. Prince Siegfried is left all alone on the shore of Swan Lake.

Act 3

The next day at the formal celebration in the Royal Hall, Prince Siegfried is

presented with many prospective princesses. Although the princesses are worthy

of his attention, he cannot stop thinking about Odette. His mother commands

him to choose a bride, but he cannot. For the time being, he satisfies his mother's

request by dancing with them. While the prince dances, trumpets announce the

arrival of Von Rothbart. He brings his daughter, Odile, on whom he has cast a

spell to appear as Odette. The prince is captivated by her beauty and he dances

with the imposter. Unbeknownst to Prince Siegfried, the true Odette is watching

him from a window. The prince soon confesses his love to Odile, thinking that she

is Odette. To Odette’s horror, she flees into the night. Prince Siegfried sees the

real Odette fleeing from the window and realizes his mistake. Upon his discovery,

Von Rothbart reveals to the prince the true appearance of his daughter Odile.

Prince Siegfried quickly leaves the party and chases after Odette.

Act 4

Odette has fled back to the lake and joined the rest of the girls in sadness. Prince

Siegfried finds them gathered at the shore consoling each other. He explains to

Odette the trickery of Von Rothbart and she grants him her forgiveness. It isn’t

long before when Von Rothbart and Odile appear in their evil, un-human,

somewhat bird like, forms. Von Rothbart tells the prince that he must stick to his

word and marry his daughter. A fight quickly ensues. Prince Siegfried tells Von

Rothbart that he would rather die with Odette than to marry Odile. He then takes

Odette’s hand and together they jump into the lake. The spell is broken and the

remaining swans turn back into humans. They quickly drive Von Rothbart and

Odile into the water where they, too, drown. The girls watch the spirits of Prince

Siegfried and Odette ascend into the heavens above Swan Lake.

Synopsis of Nutcracker Ballet

Act I

It’s a cozy Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum’s house. Their house is decorated with

Christmas ornaments, wreaths, stockings, mistletoe and in the center of it all, a

majestic Christmas tree. As the Stahlbaum’s prepare for their annual Christmas

party, their children, Fritz and Clara, wait anxiously for their family and friends

to arrive. When the guests finally appear, the party picks up with dancing and

celebration. A mysterious guest arrives dressed in dark clothing, nearly

frightening Fritz, but not Clara. Clara knows he is Godfather Drosselmeyer, the

toymaker. His surprise arrival is warmly accepted and all the children dance and

carry on with laughter. The celebration is interrupted again when Drosselmeyer

reveals to the children that he has brought them gifts. The girls receive beautiful

china dolls and the boys receive bugles. Fritz is given a beautiful drum, but Clara

is given the best gift of all, the Nutcracker. Fritz grows jealous, snatches the

Nutcracker from Clara and plays a game of toss with the other boys. It isn't long

until the Nutcracker breaks. Clara is upset, but Drosselmeyer fixes it with a

handkerchief. Drosselmeyer’s nephew offers Clara a small make-shift bed under

the Christmas tree for her injured Nutcracker.

The party grows late and the children become sleepy. Everyone generously

thanks the Stahlbaum’s before they leave. As Clara’s family retires to bed, she

checks on her Nutcracker one last time and ends up falling asleep under the

Christmas tree with the Nutcracker in her arms.

At the stroke of midnight Clara wakes up to a frightening scene. The house, the

tree and the toys seem to be getting larger. Is she shrinking? Out of nowhere large

mice dressed in army uniforms, lead by the Mouse King, begin to circle the room

while the toys and Christmas tree come to life. Clara’s Nutcracker groups the

soldier toys into battle formation and fights the mouse army. The Mouse King

traps the Nutcracker in the corner, but the Nutcracker can’t overcome the Mouse

King’s strength. Clara makes a desperate move to save her Nutcracker from

defeat and throws her slipper at the Mouse King. She hits him directly in the

head! The Nutcracker is able to overcome the stunned Mouse King and claims

victory. The mice army quickly carries away their King.

Clara falls onto the Nutcracker’s bed, over-whelmed by the moment. As angels

and delightful music hover over their heads, the bed turns into a magical sleigh,

floating higher and higher. The Nutcracker is transformed into a human prince

(who looks strikingly similar to Drosselmeyer’s nephew). He gets on Clara’s

sleigh and drives through a snowy forest where the snowflakes turn into dancing

maidens.

Act II

After their magical journey through the snow forest, they come to their

destination in the Land of Sweets. Clara can’t believe her eyes; ladyfinger

mountains topped with whipped cream whiter than snow, sweetly glazed flowers

and butter-cream frosting everywhere she looks. Upon their arrival, they are

greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. As they reenact the night’s events, the Sugar

Plum Fairy becomes impressed with Clara’s bravery and the Nutcracker’s

heroism. In their honor, the Sugar Plum Fairy takes them inside the Candy Castle

and throws a lavish festival. They are treated like royalty and presented with

every imaginable sweet. Shortly thereafter, the dancing begins.

Hot coco dances to the lively music of trumpets and castanets of the Spanish

fandango. The women of coffee dance in veils and move their bodies like rising

steam to an Arabian song, while Mandarin tea dances to an exotic Asian flute

chorus. Matroishkas (Russian dolls) follow the Mandarin tea leaping and dancing

to an invigorating Russian Trepak.

To Clara’s enjoyment there is still more to be seen. A giant gingerbread house,

known as Mother Ginger, dances onto the Sugar Plum Fairy’s court. She opens

her skirt and eight little gingerbread children come dancing out circling around

her. After the Mirliton dance is over, the children quickly file back into the large

gingerbread house and Mother Ginger leaves the room. Soon after Mother Ginger

exits, the dancing flowers enter to the tune of the harp. Perhaps the most

beautiful waltz she has ever heard, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince watch with

amazement. The flowers dance in beautiful mesmerizing patterns as a single

Dewdrop floats above them.

Silence quickly follows the end of their dance. Clara doesn’t know what to expect

next. A handsome Cavalier enters the scene and escorts the Sugar Plum Fairy to

the center of the room. They dance to the most recognizable song in the entire

work. The captivating pair dance lighter than air. This beautiful dance completes

Clara’s most perfect evening. The festival concludes when everyone comes

together on the court and bids Clara and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. She tells

the Nutcracker she wishes the adventure would never end and he tells her it won’t

for those who have an eye to see it.

Clara wakes up the next morning under the Christmas tree with her Nutcracker

still in her arms.

Synopsis of Sleeping Beauty

Act I

In a magical Fairy Kingdom, a Princess named Aurora was born to a wonderful

King and Queen. The Kingdom’s Fairy of Protection, Lilac Fairy, and all of her

maidens were invited to celebrate Princess Aurora’s birth, but in the midst of the

excitement the royal family forgot to invite the wicked fairy, Carabosse. Although

Carabosse is distraught by their neglect, she and her crew come to party

anyway with evil intentions in mind. She disguises herself as a beautiful fairy and

pretends to enjoy the festivities. Despite her outward appearances of happiness

and joy, the evil within her boils to the brim and she can no longer contain it. She

angrily casts a spell over Princess Aurora declaring that on Aurora will prick her

finger and die on her 16th birthday. Quick to defense, the Lilac Fairy casts

another spell over Aurora saying that rather than dying, Aurora will fall asleep

after pricking her finger. After Carabosse leaves, the party is restored and

everyone continues to celebrate.

Sixteen years later, the royal family begins to prepare the decorations, food, and

entertainment for Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday. After the curse Carbosse cast

on the night of her birth, the King ordered that all sharp objects be kept out of the

kingdom hoping spare Aurora from any cuts and pinpricks. His rules were

broken on the night of Aurora’s 16th birthday party. During the party, Carabosse

arrives in disguise again - this time as a beautiful seamstress - and presents

Princess Aurora with an exquisite tapestry. Enchanted by its beauty, Princess

Aurora grabs the tapestry and pricks her finger on a needle that Carabosse

secretly embedded within its threads. Carabosse laughs in victory and runs out of

the castle. Remembering the spell she had cast before, Lilac Fairy appears to

make sure Princess Aurora falls asleep. Lilac Fairy casts a spell on the entire

family and court to fall asleep ensuring them of their safety too.

Act II

One hundred years later in a dark forest, a Prince by the name of Florimund is

hunting with his friends. He leaves his friends and insists on being alone. Lilac

Fairy hears the commotion and ventures out to Prince Florimund. He tells her

that he is lonely and is in need of love. She has the perfect idea. She presents an

image of Princess Aurora to him and he instantly falls in love.

She leads him to the castle to rescue the beautiful Princess and put an end to the

evil fairy, Carabosse. Lilac Fairy reveals the hidden castle to Prince Florimund.

Just when Prince Florimund steps into the castle doorway, Carabosse appears

before him. She will not let him pass and a battle quickly follows. Prince

Florimund finally overpowers her and he races into the castle. Knowing the only

way to break the spell, he quickly finds Princess Aurora and kisses her. The spell

is broken and Carabosse is finally defeated. Princess Aurora and her entire family

wake up from their deep sleep. Princess Aurora accepts Prince Florimund's

proposal for marriage and her family approves.

Act III

The castle is filled with music and laughter as the family and maids clean the dusty old

castle for the wedding. The wedding is attended by the Prince’s family as well as the

fairies. And like every great fairytale, they seal their marriage with a kiss and live happily

ever after.