If you crave high culture during the Christmas season, you will probably turn to two classic productions: Handel’s Messiah (a portion of which we examined in Module 5) and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker actually expands the dance art form to include much more of what we would expect in theatre than is usual in this medium. This makes the experience all the richer and provides additional clues to the story being told.

Using the outline given below, write a critical analysis of Act One, Scene One from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker: The Nutcracker Act1. – 1. (Royal Ballet -2008) [Video file][10 min 00 sec] (minimum one-full page). Refer to the example at the end of Chapter 9 as a guide, but be sure to include the following expanded outline points:

• Genre
• Overall theme
• Story line, movement (including the basic dance steps you recognize, mime and pantomime)
• Characters
• Costuming
• Mise-en-scene (set)
• Score (musical background)
• Use of color
• Lighting techniques

You will need to do some research to obtain information about the story, as we are only viewing the first part of the production.

Be sure to include a convincing, inclusive conclusion at the end of your critical analysis and a bibliography of at least two sources that you used to prepare your analysis, one of which may be the class text. Do not use and cite Wikipedia. Instead, visit the Excelsior College Library to learn about academic sources. The page on Evaluating Information https://my.excelsior.edu/group/library/evaluating-information  includes helpful sections on “Print vs. Web Resources,” Evaluation Criteria,” Evaluation Scenarios,” and “Media Literacy.”

Write a 250 word critical analysis. Follow the APA style, using the Excelsior College Library resources on learning to use APA Style. https://my.excelsior.edu/group/library/cite-sources   Submit the analysis to the assignment dropbox.

See the Course Calendar for the due date.

Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer. When you’re ready to submit your work, click Browse My Computer and find your file. Once you’ve located your file click Open and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached files heading. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click Submit and you’re done. Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you post it.

Evaluation Criteria

Read the SLA Writing Rubric [PDF file size 227 KB] to understand expectations for this assignment. All essays combined are worth 50% of your total grade.