Music, Books, and Video
Suggested Reading: The Nutcracker Ballet, retold by Deborah Hautzig, illustrated by Carolyn Ewing
Random House, 1992. A simple picture book of the traditional tale.
Nutcracker Noel, by Kate McMullan, illustrated by Jim McMullan
Harper Collins Publishers, 1995. A picture book story about young Noel’s first performance in The Nutcracker ballet.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, text and photos by Joel Meyerowitz
Little, Brown, and Company, 1993. Story and photographs of New York City Ballet’s production of the ballet. (Currently out of print but available in libraries.)
I Am a Dancer, text and photos by Jane Feldman
Random House, 1999. A short biography with photographs of a 13-year-old girl who studies at the School of American Ballet and performs in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ with New York City Ballet.
Ballet 101: A Complete Guide to Learning & Loving the Ballet, by Robert Greskovic, Hyperion, 1998. Section IV, Chapter 3 (page 253-272) is about The Nutcracker, and includes a detailed description of the choreography for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ as seen on video, as well as background information.
Suggested Listening:
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™: Music from the Original Soundtrack
Music by Tschaikovsky, played by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, conducted by David Zinman. Elektra Entertainment, 1993. Available on cassette and compact disc.
Suggested Viewing (available on video and DVD):
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, directed by Emile Ardolino
Warner Brothers Family Entertainment, 1993. This film of the ballet performance, with narration of the story, features Macauley Culkin and the dancers of New York City Ballet.
