Mise En Scene in Tchaikovsky S Nutcracker Ballet

Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky is in the fairy tale genre in the classical ballet type. The overall theme of Act One, Scene One of the ballet is to set the stage of the story: it is Christmas time and the Christmas tree is being decorated. The characters are happy and joyous and looking forward to their time together. The music is crisp and engaging. The characters move about and dance with a gentleness that makes everything seem small and familial and intimate and close. The basic dance steps that are seen are the en pointe, the pirouette, the port de bras, and the saute. Each is simple and conveys a feeling of honest exuberance and happiness, and this is all in keeping with and consistent with the theme and mood setting by this opening scene. The mime and pantomime movements are also there to be seen and help to indicate the expressions and emotions of the dancers.

The story line movement is brief and basically just helps to set the stage for the coming action by introducing characters. The characters consist of the guests in the house and everyone who is watching the performance in front of the tree. The costuming is helpful in establishing the mood as everyone is very festive-looking, which lets the viewer know that this is a special moment in these people's lives, that they are enjoying an occasion that is significant.

The mise-en-scene is helpful in setting the mood and tone of the scene as well: there is the Christmas tree which gives the set its color and life and instills in everything a special warmth and glow. Then there is the room in which the scene takes place and it is large and inviting and gives plenty of space for the dance. It is the house of Dr. Stahlbaum and present are his wife and children as well as their guests. This is where the action will begin with Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. It will then lead to the Land of Sweets where the rest of the ballet will continue and some of its more famous musical numbers can be heard, such as the Pas de deux.

The score of course is unforgettable because Tchaikovsky makes such beautiful music that one finds oneself thinking of it later even after the performance. The music here is what really drives the scene and gives it its energy. The dancers seem to be filled with this energy and enthusiasm that Tchaikovsky generates in his score for the ballet and everyone on stage appears to be full of so much life as a result.

Color is another aspect of the scene that gives it its unique effect: there are sparkling golds, colorful lights, the green tree, reds and blues and all sorts of colors that invite the eye to wander over the whole set. The colors come at the viewer with as much joy and exuberance as the sounds of the music and the movements of the dancers. Yet they are not gaudy or overdone or overbearing in anyway: everything is tasteful and produced in moderation, even as joy and happiness seem to want to leap right off the stage into the audience. Lighting is also effectively utilized and implemented so as to give attention to the characters and to the tree as it is decorated.