I find The Nutcracker a bit hard to explain to fidgety kids, so before I fork over $50 a seat to take them to see it in person, I’m going to let them watch Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker to their heart’s content.
What makes this DVD’s production different from what you’d see in person is the fact that the gorgeous San Francisco Ballet performance is edited way down for shorter attention spans; and there’s narration from a (not entirely cheesy) cartoon fairy who helps kids understand why Clara is so happy to receive a nutcracker, or why there is a Chinese Dragon running around the stage. Well that, and the fact that the audience can take a bathroom break whenever they want without missing a thing.
As with their much-loved (and CMP recommended) Swan Lake DVD, your kids will have a blast getting up and learning traditional ballet steps from both “real” children and student ballerinas. My kids did. And I give huge props to moms Mary Kate Mellow and Stephanie Troeller of Prima Princessa for showing boys dancing alongside the girls.
If your kids dance around so much after the first act that they tire themselves out? Just put them to bed dreaming of ballerinas and let them watch the second act the following night. Just try doing that at the theater. –Christina
You’ll find Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker at their website..
Congratulations to Sue R., and Michelle, lucky winners of copies of Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker!
