On the Fifth Day of a Feminine Christmas

Last weekend a good friend, her daughter-in-law and her granddaughter, and I had a watch party of the “Fireside Nutcracker” which was an abridged performance of the Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, The Nutcracker.

I didn’t know what to expect with this new way to view the iconic Christmas ballet but it was marvelous and a lovely thing for my friend to orchestrate.  It allowed me to have a little “friend time”, enjoy her family and it was something fun (and normal) to do during a time that has offered very little in the way of both connection and enjoyment.  We all logged in at the same time and communicated throughout the performance with our impressions of the dancers, sets, and costumes.  And never have I seen a more touching version of the world’s most popular ballet.

What I really loved about the performance is that it wasn’t an over-performance.  Pittsburgh’s Ballet Theater dancers had the right touch – subtle and mesmerizing at the same time and it was beautifully filmed.  An ethereal performance with strong dancers, it provided all the magic one would expect from a live ballet but without the drama.  Tchaikovsky’s score can sometimes be intimidating to young audience members but this dance focused on the love between Clara and her prince with perfectly poetic costuming.  The captivating Waltz of the Flowers, my favorite, could not have been more enchanting if I had seen it live.

I have attended The Nutcracker ballet before and once took my daughter to a performance in Boston of which she has no memory of whatsoever.  Not even the tree growing up to the ceiling on the stage (which was not included in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s rendition) stayed with her.  I can’t say The Nutcracker is my favorite ballet but it is certainly a Christmas tradition and now after seeing the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s version, I am a bigger fan than ever.

Ballet is a sweet way to celebrate the holidays.  But what was truly sweet was the chance to reach out across the miles and celebrate with my friend.  We talked on the phone afterwards to review our favorite parts.  I gushed about what the ballet has meant to me almost all my life – a chance to step through the looking-glass, forget about problems and mankind’s trials and troubles.  A chance to witness something that transcends the human condition.

And the ballet is not the only way to do this during the season.  Sometimes it can be done as you listen to nostalgic Christmas music on a cold afternoon as you settle under a warm afghan for a rest.  Or by watching vintage Christmas films in a softly lit room and a mug of a favorite tea.  There are many ways to reach Christmas nirvana if you seek them out.  Even during a pandemic.