Being a Ginger kid was one of my favorite Nutcracker memories 🥹 ours was SO FAST tho omg we were completely out of breath by the end, but it was amazing to get to do an Act 2 divertissement at such a young age and really dance a lot in it (ours was age appropriate as well!)
It always makes me so happy (and a little emotional?) to see kids doing age appropriate choreography. Not only does it look amazing but I’m sure it makes them feel much more confident too
this was one of my first nutcracker roles! Our mother ginger was actually a woman, and she wasn't on stilts, just character heels. We called the children "bonbons" and it was difficult! The skirt was barely big enough to hide all of us. During rehearsals they had a mock hoop skirt (only hoops and tapes, no fabric) for us to practice staying within, so they could see us and correct us. It seems like our choreography was a bit different, but I can barely remember as it is, it was so long ago. I just remember that the story of our scene was mother ginger coming on stage desperately searching for her children (hiding under her skirt) and then we popped out from the back in pairs, and the rest of the scene was a back and forth of taunting her and hiding from her, being mischievous little kids. I don't remember the spacing or timing being particularly difficult, but I attended a studio owned by a Russian man who would dip into classes very often, so we were built tough! And he ended up being the one teaching us the part, so I think he was sure to get the spacing and timing down pat before much of anything else
Thank you for acknowledging that this children's role is THE dancing role. Dena Abergel said herself that this is the hardest role for a child to play because of the spacing and it's all of the basic petit and grand allegro that you learn as a student.
That might be age appropriate choreography, but those kids nailed it. Definitely kudos to the people who prepare them for that part. I assume that the dancer on stilts is also having to support the full weight of that skirt? Even having the most lightweight construction possible, that thing has got to be insanely heavy & difficult to maneuver.
Those kids blew my socks off, because man o man that spacing 😮 💕 And the awareness not to bump into the stilts. To me Nutcracker=kids. Balanchine’s is my favorite because the kids are truly kids. No weird hard stuff that isn’t age appropriate. Happy Christmas to all that celebrate 🎄☃️
Katie, first, I wanted to take the time to say “thank you” for taking the time out of your holidays to create these videos! Also, I have always loved the music in this divertissement, and I think the kids that get chosen are great dancers for their age group! Thanks again for the amazing deconstruction! 🩰
I had the 1993 vhs when I was little. This dance was my favourite, and I danced along to it all the time, in my own little replicated Polli costume that my grandmother had sewn for me ❤
Thank you for this series, love it! I always feel this dance is so much more complicated than the candy cane dance, for the kids that is. So much fun, the little duets, the quick passé's. It must be a sad day when you grow out of this age, and just have candy canes left... And then the long wait until you can be an apprentice in snow, or something. Love the Nutcracker!
Pittsburgh ballet came to town the year I was 11 and cast local kids in all the kid parts except Marie, she travelled with the adults. My studio was chosen to dance this divert and I was just barely short enough to be one of the boys. If i had grown even half an inch, the costume wouldnt have fit me. My mother swears i willed myself not to grow that fall!! Because there was a chance i might grow out of it, I was cast as the swing and danced each spot over 5 shows. Our mother gigner was on a cart and there was another "bed boy" with a headset under there with us pushing the guy around on the stage. And, we didn't go back under the skirt at the end, we had a pose and ran off stage. Other than that, it was this exact choreography! We had so much fun that year!
Oh my gosh- Yes, if you are chosen to be a Polly, a real dancer role for the kids- you've arrived! My daughter would spend all summer during intensives studying Balanchine's Polly. My daughter was tall,she was a Polly Boy. Mother Gingers stilts- a challenge. Andrew Scordato, we knew him as a child Prince in Nutcracker he was always Cast A with PA Ballet Company(now Phila. Ballet),with my daughter. He's such a good dancer,a sweet kid, & a great adult. He studied with Jeff Lyons, you can tell with his animation, his character role dancing, simply Great! We love Polly!
I can remember times when the Mother Ginger music was my favorite music in the Nutcracker and possibly my favorite piece of music in the world when I was really young. Not only is the music exciting, but also the visuals do seem to appeal to children more than other visuals. I guess in the Baryshnikov version, there were dancing clowns instead of a lady in a huge skirt. I guess clowns can have a certain appeal to children. When I saw a the San Francisco ballet as a kid, I remember the lady in the huge skirt being one of the Act II characters who stood out most and possibly my first time ever seeing the character Mother Ginger in any version. All previous versions I had seen before that had no Mother Ginger character with children under her skirt. One thing that definitely stands out about this particular version is the defiance of gender stereotypes among the polichinelles' clothes. I love how the costume design really defies the pink is for girls blue is for boys stereotype and switched it around by having the dresses be blue (I previously thought the ones in pants were boys until you said they were all girls). Having blue dresses and pink outfits with pants definitely works much better than if it were the other way around. Now that you pointed out that the ones in pants are girls, that can add to the gender stereotype defiance by breaking down the girls wear dresses boys wear pants stereotype. I can definitely think of times in my life where I prefer dresses over pants while liking blue more than pink.
This choreo feels very in line with Mr B's obsession with musicality. The more difficult steps will come in time, but this really forces the kids to hear the music.
Andrew Scordato is just as funny as William Otto was in the 1993 production! Bravo to all the dancers in this production! Happy Holidays to you and your family, Kathryn! 🎅🎄
IB Anderson who was a Principle with NYB before he became artistic director for Ballet Arizona had a rig created for Mother Ginger so the kids are standing on a platform on the bottom with their backs to the audience when they come on and the guy playing Mother Ginger is standing on top. Also Mother Ginger engages the audience in clapping during the dance. This is the signature image for IB Anderson's Nutcracker which is very similar to NYB's.
Same. We were not the level of dancers in this production. One of the small ballet company's in our state gave local dance studios the opportunity to have students in the Nutcracker when it performed in their town. We were called marshmallows. Our Mother Ginger did not have stilts so we were in a squat position on our tip toes and fingers touching the floor. we basically bourreed in that position. We forward rolled out from under the skirt in pairs. Our dancing including balancees and skipping in a circle with partner marshmallows as well as cartwheels in a big circle. We also had a rogue marshmallow who did not want to return with the rest of us to Mother Ginger. She was played by the smallest (cutest and probably strongest) dancer who did sissones in the front of the stage while blowing kisses. I still remember who played that part - the same dancer both years we performed. That was almost 40 years ago; the experience clearly made an impression. We were never going to become professional dancers so the stage experience was so special.
Hi Katie, would love some insight on what this divert actually is and where it comes from lol. Was it literally Balanchine going: for this part we need a guy in a dress and eight children? Or is it historical?
got a little weepy here admittedly. I really appreciate how you spoke about the 'littles' with respect to their amazing abilities, but also respect to just how much is expected from them and how that is not necessarily a pressure put upon children this age in other 'industries'. Still, acknowledging they are nailing it nevertheless! Its weird to have a 'previous life' of sorts as a "triple threat" (read: too busy) stage kid who did nothing but interact with adults, to now being an adult who does not perform and chooses to not interact with kids because I view it as DIFFICULT to do it correctly! To be mindful of their immense capabilities, while balancing their objective inexperience and immaturity, all without demeaning or damaging them in any way, TOUGH! So props and respect to you and the mindset exhibited here by your words, it feels healthy, and that is EVERYTHING from a peer/educator to a child imo.
I would assume they wanted someone very tall to begin with, with the physical strength to manage the costume. Plus, it helps her read not as a young mother, but as a mother old enough to have experience wrangling many children!
It's hard to tell because they are constantly in movement, but do the pink pollies have slightly stuffed costumes in the front and back to give their bellies/backs a rounded look? I had never noticed that before but I think theres definitely something there? Any info? Ill check back in that recent costuming video, but I don't remember it being mentioned, now I am curious! Adorable, regardless!
Being a Ginger kid was one of my favorite Nutcracker memories 🥹 ours was SO FAST tho omg we were completely out of breath by the end, but it was amazing to get to do an Act 2 divertissement at such a young age and really dance a lot in it (ours was age appropriate as well!)
It always makes me so happy (and a little emotional?) to see kids doing age appropriate choreography. Not only does it look amazing but I’m sure it makes them feel much more confident too
this was one of my first nutcracker roles! Our mother ginger was actually a woman, and she wasn't on stilts, just character heels. We called the children "bonbons" and it was difficult! The skirt was barely big enough to hide all of us. During rehearsals they had a mock hoop skirt (only hoops and tapes, no fabric) for us to practice staying within, so they could see us and correct us. It seems like our choreography was a bit different, but I can barely remember as it is, it was so long ago. I just remember that the story of our scene was mother ginger coming on stage desperately searching for her children (hiding under her skirt) and then we popped out from the back in pairs, and the rest of the scene was a back and forth of taunting her and hiding from her, being mischievous little kids. I don't remember the spacing or timing being particularly difficult, but I attended a studio owned by a Russian man who would dip into classes very often, so we were built tough! And he ended up being the one teaching us the part, so I think he was sure to get the spacing and timing down pat before much of anything else
Mother Ginger, as she exits, saying “Oh Stop, Oh Stop”
Thank you for acknowledging that this children's role is THE dancing role. Dena Abergel said herself that this is the hardest role for a child to play because of the spacing and it's all of the basic petit and grand allegro that you learn as a student.
That might be age appropriate choreography, but those kids nailed it. Definitely kudos to the people who prepare them for that part.
I assume that the dancer on stilts is also having to support the full weight of that skirt? Even having the most lightweight construction possible, that thing has got to be insanely heavy & difficult to maneuver.
Those kids blew my socks off, because man o man that spacing 😮 💕 And the awareness not to bump into the stilts.
To me Nutcracker=kids. Balanchine’s is my favorite because the kids are truly kids. No weird hard stuff that isn’t age appropriate.
Happy Christmas to all that celebrate 🎄☃️
Yes to this!!!
Katie, first, I wanted to take the time to say “thank you” for taking the time out of your holidays to create these videos! Also, I have always loved the music in this divertissement, and I think the kids that get chosen are great dancers for their age group! Thanks again for the amazing deconstruction! 🩰
Awww it’s my pleasure!
This dance will always hold a special place in my heart. It was my first part in the Nutcracker back in the 90’s when I still danced.
I had the 1993 vhs when I was little. This dance was my favourite, and I danced along to it all the time, in my own little replicated Polli costume that my grandmother had sewn for me ❤
Thank you for this series, love it! I always feel this dance is so much more complicated than the candy cane dance, for the kids that is. So much fun, the little duets, the quick passé's. It must be a sad day when you grow out of this age, and just have candy canes left... And then the long wait until you can be an apprentice in snow, or something. Love the Nutcracker!
Pittsburgh ballet came to town the year I was 11 and cast local kids in all the kid parts except Marie, she travelled with the adults. My studio was chosen to dance this divert and I was just barely short enough to be one of the boys. If i had grown even half an inch, the costume wouldnt have fit me. My mother swears i willed myself not to grow that fall!!
Because there was a chance i might grow out of it, I was cast as the swing and danced each spot over 5 shows. Our mother gigner was on a cart and there was another "bed boy" with a headset under there with us pushing the guy around on the stage. And, we didn't go back under the skirt at the end, we had a pose and ran off stage. Other than that, it was this exact choreography! We had so much fun that year!
Oh my gosh- Yes, if you are chosen to be a Polly, a real dancer role for the kids- you've arrived! My daughter would spend all summer during intensives studying Balanchine's Polly. My daughter was tall,she was a Polly Boy. Mother Gingers stilts- a challenge. Andrew Scordato, we knew him as a child Prince in Nutcracker he was always Cast A with PA Ballet Company(now Phila. Ballet),with my daughter. He's such a good dancer,a sweet kid, & a great adult. He studied with Jeff Lyons, you can tell with his animation, his character role dancing, simply Great! We love Polly!
Mother Ginger and the Duchess from Wheeldons Alice are fantastic ❤
They are so cute. Love this series
You know I love this choreography for the kids and Dena and Arch do a phenomenal job of training these kids ❤
I love this series so much! ❤
Thank you for the daily uploads and merry christmas to you, Chris and Finn 🩷
I can remember times when the Mother Ginger music was my favorite music in the Nutcracker and possibly my favorite piece of music in the world when I was really young. Not only is the music exciting, but also the visuals do seem to appeal to children more than other visuals. I guess in the Baryshnikov version, there were dancing clowns instead of a lady in a huge skirt. I guess clowns can have a certain appeal to children. When I saw a the San Francisco ballet as a kid, I remember the lady in the huge skirt being one of the Act II characters who stood out most and possibly my first time ever seeing the character Mother Ginger in any version. All previous versions I had seen before that had no Mother Ginger character with children under her skirt.
One thing that definitely stands out about this particular version is the defiance of gender stereotypes among the polichinelles' clothes. I love how the costume design really defies the pink is for girls blue is for boys stereotype and switched it around by having the dresses be blue (I previously thought the ones in pants were boys until you said they were all girls). Having blue dresses and pink outfits with pants definitely works much better than if it were the other way around. Now that you pointed out that the ones in pants are girls, that can add to the gender stereotype defiance by breaking down the girls wear dresses boys wear pants stereotype. I can definitely think of times in my life where I prefer dresses over pants while liking blue more than pink.
I can’t wait to se the last one Im sure everybody loves this as i do ❤
Cutest dragshow ever!!! ❤
This choreo feels very in line with Mr B's obsession with musicality. The more difficult steps will come in time, but this really forces the kids to hear the music.
Andrew Scordato is just as funny as William Otto was in the 1993 production! Bravo to all the dancers in this production!
Happy Holidays to you and your family, Kathryn! 🎅🎄
Can you do the Garland Dance from Sleeping Beauty really love the kids choreography and would be interested in more this made my Christmas
IB Anderson who was a Principle with NYB before he became artistic director for Ballet Arizona had a rig created for Mother Ginger so the kids are standing on a platform on the bottom with their backs to the audience when they come on and the guy playing Mother Ginger is standing on top. Also Mother Ginger engages the audience in clapping during the dance. This is the signature image for IB Anderson's Nutcracker which is very similar to NYB's.
Merry Christmas!
Great deconstruction! Thanks Katie!
Wow I didn’t even know hazard pay was a thing, such great info ❤
This one is nostalgic to me ❤
I've danced it before when I was younger and remember having so much fun with skirt bit 😂
Same. We were not the level of dancers in this production. One of the small ballet company's in our state gave local dance studios the opportunity to have students in the Nutcracker when it performed in their town. We were called marshmallows. Our Mother Ginger did not have stilts so we were in a squat position on our tip toes and fingers touching the floor. we basically bourreed in that position. We forward rolled out from under the skirt in pairs. Our dancing including balancees and skipping in a circle with partner marshmallows as well as cartwheels in a big circle. We also had a rogue marshmallow who did not want to return with the rest of us to Mother Ginger. She was played by the smallest (cutest and probably strongest) dancer who did sissones in the front of the stage while blowing kisses. I still remember who played that part - the same dancer both years we performed. That was almost 40 years ago; the experience clearly made an impression. We were never going to become professional dancers so the stage experience was so special.
Your a Gorgeous Sugar Plumb Kathryn 🧚♀️ 😍😍😍, Merry Christmas 🎅
Is NYCB the only version with Mother Ginger? I don't remember seeing it anywhere else
Katie ❤❤❤❤❤❤ 😊
How are you guys? I just came back from a performance of the nutcracker
Hi Katie, would love some insight on what this divert actually is and where it comes from lol. Was it literally Balanchine going: for this part we need a guy in a dress and eight children? Or is it historical?
Hello, are you here?
This year they started have boys do the pink/boy parts
Oh really? I had no idea!
@@kathryn_morganyes and also included some boys as hoops.
There are some things superior about this version of the Nutcracker but mother Ginger and the breakneck tempo are not 2 of them.
got a little weepy here admittedly. I really appreciate how you spoke about the 'littles' with respect to their amazing abilities, but also respect to just how much is expected from them and how that is not necessarily a pressure put upon children this age in other 'industries'. Still, acknowledging they are nailing it nevertheless! Its weird to have a 'previous life' of sorts as a "triple threat" (read: too busy) stage kid who did nothing but interact with adults, to now being an adult who does not perform and chooses to not interact with kids because I view it as DIFFICULT to do it correctly! To be mindful of their immense capabilities, while balancing their objective inexperience and immaturity, all without demeaning or damaging them in any way, TOUGH! So props and respect to you and the mindset exhibited here by your words, it feels healthy, and that is EVERYTHING from a peer/educator to a child imo.
When mother ginger turns in the skirt! On stilts! 😅
Why is this role usually played by a man? This is drag before drag was drag
At the time, drag was funny. Uncle Miltiy etc. Nowadays, little kids coming out of the dress of a drag queen would not be acceptable.
I would assume they wanted someone very tall to begin with, with the physical strength to manage the costume. Plus, it helps her read not as a young mother, but as a mother old enough to have experience wrangling many children!
It's hard to tell because they are constantly in movement, but do the pink pollies have slightly stuffed costumes in the front and back to give their bellies/backs a rounded look? I had never noticed that before but I think theres definitely something there? Any info? Ill check back in that recent costuming video, but I don't remember it being mentioned, now I am curious! Adorable, regardless!
Yes - they are stuffed. It’s comical that they have to dance like that