'Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas (The Nutcracker Poem)

Dancers, teachers, parents - this one's for you! In honor of everyone's favorite time of the year - Nutcracker! - I wrote you all a poem ;)

Listen as Emily Brunner shares and recites "'Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas (The Nutcracker Poem)"

Music: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Kevin MacLeod

Transcript

: 0:04

Welcome to Philly dances. I'm Emily and today I have a special holiday gift for you. I present the Nutcracker Poem. Enjoy.'Twas three weeks before Christmas and all through the town, not a dancer, was resting, no days off to be found. The jet glue was dripped onto the shoes with great care in the hopes that they would last longer than the last pair. The party children were excited for the show to begin. Seeing their name in the playbill brought to each face a big grin. And Clara in her dress and Fritz and his hat or is her name actually Marie? I'm not sure about that. When out on the stage there arose such a clatter, everyone jumped from the wings to see what was the matter. Away to stage, right Dew Drop, flew in a flash, tore up her new tights and her leo's white sash. The spotlight on the seam of the new Marley floor gave the luster of moonlight down the Jersey Shore. When what to the cast's eyes should suddenly appear, but a prima ballerina lifted by her strong cavalier. With a stunning tutu so sparkly and airy, they knew in a moment she must be the Sugar Plum Fairy. More rapid than Black Swan her pirouettes they came, then she smiled and sashayed and called them all by name. Now Marzipan, now Coffee, now Spanish and Tea! On Flowers, on Polys, on Hoops and Snow Queen! From the top of Act One to the last curtain call, now dance away, dance away, dance away all! As lights and tinsel on the Christmas tree hung, carefully decorated before the tech rehearsals begun. Everyone a little tired after weeks of rehearsals survived, the curtain opened and the Stahlbaum's guests arrived. Then Drosselmeyer's dolls with magic came to life surprising and delighting every child, husband and wife. At the party's end a great battle began, between some soldiers and mice and the bunny, Clara's guardsman. After the battle, the snow started to fall, a corps of ballerinas calamined pointe shoes on all. The audience applauded and they sprang from their seats. It was time for the restroom and delicious intermission sweets. After the break, the Angels took to the stage, gliding and dancing years beyond their young age. The first divertissement featured Spanish, dressed in red. They entertained Clara while away went her sled. Arabian followed up with her mesmerizing dance, leaving everyone under the spell of a coffee induced trance. Chinese Tea stole the show with their perky attitudes. Everyone wanted to see more of their happy, smiley moods. Russian was next, a candy striped troupe. Thank goodness for them someone invented the hula hoop. After Hoops came Marzipan, a sugary sweet interlude, while the Pollichinelles backstage lined up under their mother- dude. Mother Ginger and her Polly's brought down the house with her cross dressing style and their mischievous little pouts. The company returned to the stage this time as flowers, amazing the audience with their dance superpowers. Then with everyone watching, the audience cast and crew, the Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy danced their grand pas de deux. The cast returned to the stage to bid Clara farewell and the audience cheered and clapped as the red curtain fell. The director yelled to the cast as the house turned off, the lights"Happy Nutcracker to all! See you back here again tomorrow night!"