Presented by Moscow Ballet LA CLASSIQUE and Grand International

MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE was founded in 1990 by its current Artistic Director ELIK MELIKOV. With their artistic ballet skills, lavish costumes and magnificent stage sets MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE brings together the ageless tale of bravery and dreams that is Tchaikovsky's "THE NUTCRACKER". The promise to take you on a journey back in time to a frost-covered, gaslit world to join Clara, her beloved Nutcracker doll and the Magician Drosselmeyer in this traditional, festive tale for all the family. The ballet is based on the book by Hoffman entitled "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and was commissioned in 1891 by the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa who appointed Tchaikovsky to write the score. In 1892 "THE NUTCRACKER" made its debut at the Russian Mariinsky Theatre and has since travelled the world building its reputation as one of the premier ballets today. MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE production of "THE NUTCRACKER" is touring nationally in April to June 2013.

In this delightful classical production of the much-loved "THE NUTCRACKER", MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE will capture the imagination, the passion, the humour and magic of the ballet. The 2-Act ballet brings to life the ever-popular Tchaikovsky ballet featuring the famous "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "The Waltz of the Flowers". Set on Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house -- A large and grand house with the most beautiful Christmas tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.

The Party Scene grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as he presents two life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance. The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz. He gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes jealous and, in a rage grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken, Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker. As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, creeps back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.

The Fight Scene - As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows higher and higher above her. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into a mighty battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King. The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King. Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body.

The Land of Snow - the Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a magical journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

The Land of Sweets - the Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince describes to Clara their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of exotic dances.....the Spanish Dance, the Arabian Dance, the Russian Dance, the Chinese Dance, the Mirliton Dance, and the Waltz of Flowers. As a grand finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux.

The Dream Ends - Clara awakens and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker - "Is the Dream for real....or is it just a Fairytale".

MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE invites you on a magical journey perfect for the family and ballet lovers of all ages....."THE NUTCRACKER" captures the imagination with the passion, humour and the magic. This ballet features in the repertoire of the world's leading ballet companies...and wears its age with pride and a smile.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ELIK MELIKOV

A graduate from the Moscow Art University in 1981. The advent of Perestroika in 1986 allowed the founding of private enterprise and his 'Lenok' theatrical workshops were among the first to be established in the former USSR. For many years the enterprise manufactured superb costumes, footwear, stage sets and decorations for illustrious clients that included The Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow, Moscow City Ballet, The Danish Royal Ballet and Boston Ballet Theatre. In 1990 he founded the MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE utilising ballet dancers from the leading theatre of the CIS Countries and the Bolshoi, Kirov, Ballet Theatres of Kiev, Odessa. Prominent choreographers who have collaborated with MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE include Natalia Ryzhenko, Valery Kovtun, Nikolay Dolgushin, Viktor Litvinov, Serge Manguette, Natalia Zolotova, Alexander Prokofyev, Boris Rakhmanin, Lyudmila Semenyaka, Aza Kulayeva, Lyudmila Guseva, Vladimir Koshelev and others. World-renowned soloists have included Nadezhda Pavlova, Lyubov Kunakova, Alexander Bogatyryov, Lyudmila Semenyaka, Viktor Yaryominko, Alla Mikhalchenko, Nina Semizorova, Mark Peretokin, Irina Pyatkina, Ruslan Pronin, Evgenia Novikova, Dmitry Smirnov, Albina Dmitrieva (Honoured Dancer of Russia), Igor Stetsiour-Mova (Honoured Dancer of Russia), Iana Kazantseva (Honoured Dancer of Russia), Denis Pivovarov, Andrey Laypin - have led the MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE in their rich repertoire of world's best loved ballets. Always in demand, MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE undertake highly-successful tours of Italy, Morocco, Spain, Egypt, Australia, Norway, Taiwan, China, France, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. Soloists/Principals for the Australian Tour are Nadejda Ivanova, Ekaterina Shalyapina, Ksenia Maximova, Anastasia Chumakova, Dmitry Smirnov, Andrey Shalin, Aleksandr Tarasov and Sergey Kuptsov.

MOSCOW BALLET LA CLASSIQUE continually refreshes and revitalises their corps de ballet with news dancers from the graduates of all Russian Ballet Schools.