{"id":25214,"date":"2016-12-11T19:53:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-12T00:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=25214"},"modified":"2016-12-11T19:53:16","modified_gmt":"2016-12-12T00:53:16","slug":"nutcracker-christmas-tradition-story-photographs-diane-fleischman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=25214","title":{"rendered":"THE NUTCRACKER:  A CHRISTMAS TRADITION &#8211; Story &#038; Photographs by Diane Fleischman"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.df-foto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Story &amp; Photographs by Diane Fleischman<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Know what\u2019s great about the holiday season?<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Traditions.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">We all have them, some are handed down generation to generation, or some develop their own.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Either way, they bring people and families together with celebration and love.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Such was the case Saturday, at the State Theatre as the Moscow Ballet\u2019s Great Russian Nutcracker performed a matinee and evening performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"su_carousel_69f28a924e396\" class=\"su-carousel su-carousel-centered su-carousel-pages-yes su-carousel-responsive-yes su-lightbox-gallery\" style=\"width:100%\" data-autoplay=\"3000\" data-speed=\"600\" data-mousewheel=\"true\" data-items=\"2\" data-scroll=\"1\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slides\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3514r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3514r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3514r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3569r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3569r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3569r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3579r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-2\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3579r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3579r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3622r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-3\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3622r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3622r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3642r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-4\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3642r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3642r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3658r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3658r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3658r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3687r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-6\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3687r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3687r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3710r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-7\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_3710r.jpg\" alt=\"dsc_3710r\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-nav\"><div class=\"su-carousel-direction\"><span class=\"su-carousel-prev\"><\/span><span class=\"su-carousel-next\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-pagination\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The performance began with Uncle Drosselmeyer as he prepared his gifts for the children at the Christmas Eve party at Mayor Stahlbaum\u2019s home.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Once he arrived, the party was in full swing with dancing, and merriment .<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The gifts were handed out, the children were elated.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Masha, and brother Fritz waited with great anticipation as their gifts came out of the large red sack.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Masha received a Nutcracker doll.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">She took the doll into her arms and danced with joy and love for her new gift.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Later, at the close of the party, the Nutcracker doll broke.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Masha, heartbroken, goes to bed for the night.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">She has a dream that her Nutcracker doll came to life, and they battle the Rat King, journey through the Snow Forest and meet Father Christmas and the Snow Maiden who take them to the Land of Peace and Harmony.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">In the Snow Forest, a party is held in their honor.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Representatives from the lands of Africia, Russia, Spain, Europe and China performed for them in elaborate dances from their home lands.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Both Masha and the Nutcracker were enchanted and danced on their own before the close of the party.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">As the performance closed, we\u2019re left to wonder if it all really was just a dream.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Or maybe a touch of Christmas magic.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Seems more like Christmas tradition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Visit The State Theatre&#8217;s website for more information about other upcoming shows and events <a href=\"http:\/\/statetheatre.org\/\">http:\/\/statetheatre.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner3023'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/' target=\"_blank\" data-id='3023' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner7036'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com' target=\"_blank\" data-id='7036' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?post_type=adverts_posts&p=7036\" class=\"read-more\">Click here to read more... <\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2290,1024,69,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diane-fleischman","category-entertainment","category-in-the-valley","category-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/nutcracker.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25214"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}