In the classical version of the ballet, the character of Clara frames the story. Clara's experiences, from her attendance at a ball to her dreams of seeing a palace and a fairy, serve as a means of telling the story of the ballet. Clara is traditionally played by a young girl. Choose the most promising young member of the ballet school. A girl who has been studying point technique for at least two years and is at least thirteen should have the physical stamina to perform the necessary dance steps. Clara can be partnered with another promising young male member of the ballet school to play her brother Fritz. Older members of the troupe should assume roles in the ballet, including the Sugar Plum Fairy and Herr Drosselmeyer. Have students perform in a traditional castle setting wearing standard ballet costumes in pale shades.
Many ballet companies have updated the original Nutcracker to both draw upon classical choreography and bring in their own spin. In many neoclassical versions, the role of Clara is played as a child by a member of the ballet school in the early part of the ballet she attends a ball. After the conclusion of the ball scene, she is played by an adult by a member of the ballet company. Many productions also create their own unique versions of the staging of the ballet. For a neoclassical performance, ask students to paint their own interpretations of the background on canvas or have them create stained glass windows from thin brightly colored paper to represent Clara's home and the ball that takes place there.
Contemporary versions of the Nutcracker have changed many aspects of the ballet, including the setting and the age of the characters. For example, contemporary choreographer Mark Morris used comic books as inspiration for a version he dubbed "The Hard Nut." In Morris's version of the ballet, the characters are transported to 1960's suburbia. His ballet begins with characters in modern dress at a cocktail party and ends with them in front of a television. You can likewise add a modern spin to the ballet. For example, change out the colors of the costumes. Exchange the pretty pastels of traditional ballet for dramatic black and white, or dress members of the production in startling shades of neon yellow and blazing scarlet. Paint toe shoes to match. Alternatively, place the dancers in a setting that evokes a local school auditorium rather than a dance in fairyland.
Combine various ideas to create a Nutcracker all your own. Have a member of the company dance Clara one night while a member of the ballet school dances the role the next night. Use backgrounds that evoke both a palace and a school gym. Have students dance some dances in traditional point shoes while other sections of the ballet, such as the Arabian dance, can be completed with contemporary steps or even tap shoes.