Our Magical New Year's Eve Adventure at the Kremlin
check_circlePros
- The new format of the celebration was a great way to keep the kids entertained.
- The ballet of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre was a highlight of the evening, with stunning dances and a beautiful adaptation of 'The Nutcracker'.
- The performances were easy to follow and made perfect sense for young audiences.
- The decorations and music added to the magic of the night, creating a winter wonderland atmosphere.
- The kids loved participating in the craft workshops and making their own New Year's decorations.
- The face-painting activity was a fun way to get the kids into the spirit of things and feel like they were part of the magic.
cancelCons
- Some of the characters and storylines might be confusing for younger kids who don't know the original story.
- The main heroine's name was changed from Clara to Masha, which might be jarring for some viewers.
- The villain's name was left as Frederick, which might stick out in a Russian production.
- The show was a bit long for younger kids, and some might get restless during the performance.
- The seats were a bit cramped, and some families might find it uncomfortable.
- The concession stand had limited options, and some kids might be disappointed by the lack of snacks.
Editor's Summary
I spent New Year's Eve at the Kremlin with my son, and it was an experience we'll never forget. The new format of the celebration was a hit with the kids, and the ballet of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre was a highlight of the evening. The performances were engaging, fun, and easy to follow, making it perfect for young audiences. The decorations, music, and overall atmosphere added to the magic of the night.
Specifications
We dove into a winter wonderland with my son - we became part of the Kremlin New Year's Eve celebration in a brand-new format.
As we entered the palace, we were greeted by Vasilisa and Ivan, Emelya and Koschei, skomorokhs, and many other characters, whom we helped cure the Firebird with a magical wonder remedy and together with Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden managed to light the New Year's tree, so that the celebration could take place.
The kids also participated in craft workshops to make New Year's decorations. It's super cool to take such a souvenir from the New Year's tree, and from the Kremlin, too! To top it all off, the kids got to enchantingly color their faces to fully immerse themselves in the world of New Year's magic. You can feel it, right? It's starting to smell like New Year's already. Not just the kids, but we adults are starting to feel like kids again.
So, the lights fade, and the main program of the celebration begins – the ballet of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre – 'The Nutcracker'.
The creators did a great job adapting the performance for young audiences, giving them the chance to form an understanding of this art form and not bore the kids. The performance was divided into two acts, and at the beginning of each act, the narrator briefly told us what to expect next.
Grace, plasticity, and the elegance of lines and movements highlighted the magic of dance and introduced children to modern ballet. The kids and we parents saw a new take on art, on a work by the People's Artist of Russia, Andrejs Marijevics Liepa.
Welcome to the country where the adventures of Masha and the brave Nutcracker, who turned out to be a beautiful prince, are told through music and dance.
The Christmas tree grows before our eyes, the toys come to life, and the room transforms into a snowy forest. 'Overture' sounds, but then it's replaced by 'March', and on stage, soldiers and a mouse army led by the king appear. The soldiers' dance is synchronized, and the mice bring chaos to the stage, but the chaos is organized into a dance and becomes scary for the toys and the Nutcracker.
<\/a><\/div><\/div>The Nutcracker takes the win. The mouse king has been defeated, and the army is in shambles.<\/p>
<\/a><\/div><\/div>The Nutcracker transforms into a beautiful prince.<\/p>
<\/a><\/div><\/div>The whole performance is accompanied by stunning, heartwarming dances.<\/p>
<\/a><\/div><\/div>The prince and Masha head to the fairy-tale land of Confiturienburg. We see the toys and dolls celebrating their victory. Throughout the performance, the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky plays. The national dances of the dolls left no one unimpressed! And the tenderness and delicacy that unfold in the waltz of flowers... That was probably one of the most memorable and striking dances for my son and me. But all good things must come to an end, and so does New Year's Eve. Masha wakes up. It was a wonderful dream.<\/p>
<\/a><\/div><\/div>By the way, the main heroine of the performance was originally called Clara, not Masha. This happened because the name Clara sounded too German in Russia, and it was replaced with a more 'patriotic' name, Masha. Frederick, on the other hand, kept his original German name because he's the villain. My son and I read the version with Clara and Frederick, which he reminded me of after the performance. I recommend taking your kids to this ballet when they're at least 6 years old, as it's unlikely they'll fully understand the nuances of ballet before then.<\/p>
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