Jan 3, 2004

Explorer Preschool performs the ‘Nutcracker’

By Konne Ainsworth
Special to the Times

For the past 13 years, the children at Explorer Preschool recreate the “Nutcracker” ballet and perform it for their families. After studying the music and practicing the story, each child chooses his or her favorite music and talks to teacher Konne Ainsworth about costumes. Snowflakes wear white, sugar plum fairies wear pink, soldiers have swords and the mice have capes.

The battle between the mice and soldiers interests the most reluctant dancers and the Russian dance music gets everyone clapping. The children enthusiastically draw pictures of the “Nutcracker” to make programs and invite their parents to attend the event. Homemade costumes are unpacked and the children bring in tights to complete the ballet look. The parents and grandparents make the best audience as they watch the ballet unfold. 

This tradition began in 1990, while enjoying a performance of the San Jose Ballet “Nutcracker” with my own children. I could clearly see that my preschool class of energetic children would enjoy the music. I bought a copy of the ballet and thought about how to present it. Since children learn by active participation, I decided to teach them the music by doing the ballet. I have been teaching it to energetic children every year since and it is the highlight of my holiday season.

In early December, I read a simplified version of the ballet to the children. Some are familiar with the story and it is completely new to others. Since I want them to feel a part of the learning process, I bring up the possibility of enacting the story. Every class has enthusiastically wanted to act it out. Everyone loves to move to the music, and I have every child do all the parts until just before we perform for the parents. I then ask them which music they like the most and have them choose a part. Some love the tiptoe beat of the sugar plum fairies and some love the leg kicking dance of Russian dancers. They pick their parts, and the parents come to cheer them on.  

In the years I have been doing this, parents have made and purchased beautiful costumes for the children. I carefully store them all—the soldiers’ cardboard swords, the sugar plums’ magical wands and the Russian dancer’s handmade hats among the other props to share every year. Last year, a parent took my tattered, but much loved cardboard backdrop to touch it up. Just before the performance, she delivered a beautiful three part wooden set that reverses from a living room scene to a lovely snowflake-covered land of sweets.  

Some of my favorite memories include when I nervously played the wrong music for the “flowers” dance. One of the girls did not move and even her sister whispered, “Grow!” She looked at me and said, “That is not my music!” Another is waiting for the Russian dancers to dance, but they had stage fright, so three little girls dressed as snowflakes, came out and gave a rousing performance. Another year, the stick horse head flew off while “Fritz” was galloping around. He paused and kept right on galloping. 

Editor’s Note: Konne Ainsworth is director of Explorer Preschool and teaches two of the classes. One of those, the 4Day class performed the “Nutcracker” this year on Dec. 16 at the Lincoln Glen Church, which houses the preschool.