NUTCRACKER - Study Guide

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya

Nutcracker is an educational, interactive, pre-professional performance study guide from Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet Academy, designed for sensory friendly viewing. The guide provides pre-performance information, clear expectations for arrival and theater etiquette, and measurable learning outcomes for student matinee attendees. It includes activities to deepen understanding of the story, explore global settings and animals influencing Act II, and extend learning through dance storytelling, décor design, and reflection. It also covers accessible ballet content, TEKS alignment, glossary terms, and program evaluation to support ongoing learning.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages57

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Pre-Performance Activities and Information

What is a Sensory Friendly Performance?

Learning Outcomes

Attending a Ballet Performance

The story of The Nutcracker

Where in the World?

Meet the Creators

My Predictions

Extension Activities

Storytelling in Dance

The Magic Behind the Snow

Ballet Talk Extensions

Learn More

All About Legs

All About Arms

Why Do they Wear That?

Houston Ballet: A Brief History

Glossary

TEKS Addressed

Program Evaluation

NUTCRACKER TABLE OF CONTENTS PRE-PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION What is a Sensory Friendly Performance?.................................................3 Learning Outcomes .....................................................................................4 Attending a Ballet Performance................................................................5 The story of The Nutcracker......................................................................6 Where in the World? .................................................................................. 14 Meet the Creators…………………………………………………………….17 Chorographers Composer Designer My Predictions .............................................................................................20 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES Storytelling in Dance 22 Feeling Cards Décor: Set Design Décor: Costume Design The Magic Behind the Snow .....................................................................33 Make Your Own Snow Ballet Talk Extensions…………………………..…...…………………………36 Do You Remember? Show What You Know Review & Reflect LEARN MORE All About Legs .............................................................................................40 All About Arms ............................................................................................41 Why Do they Wear That? ..........................................................................42 Houston Ballet: A Brief History ...................................................................43 Glossary ........................................................................................................44 TEKS Addressed.........................................................................................46 Program Evaluation………………………………………………………..…57 2 WHAT ISA SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE? A S e ns o ry F ri e n d ly p e rf o r m a n c e is a n I n t e ra c tiv e , e d u c a ti o n a l p e rf o r m a n c e by H o us t o n B a l l et I I a n dt h e H o us t o n B a l l e t A c a d e my p re-p rof ess i o n a lp ro g ra m a t H o us t o n B a l l et C e n t e r f o r D a n c e . M o difi c a ti o ns a re m a d e t o t his p e rf o r m a n c e f o r a u di e n c es wit h n e u ro l o gi c a l diff e re n c es . T his s t u dy g u i d e h as i n f o r m a ti o n a n da c tiv iti es f o r b ef o re a n d a ft e r t h e p e rf o r m a n c et h a t a re i n t e n d e d t o ex t e n d t h e l e a r n i n g ex p e ri e n c e . WHAT TO EXPECT Arrival and Departure Houston Ballet’s performance of Sleeping Beauty will take place atthe Margaret Alkek Williams Houston Ballet Center for Dance. Margaret Alkek Williams Houston Ballet Center for Dance 601 Preston Street Houston, TX 77002 3 LEARNING OUTCOMES ST U D E NTS W HO ATT E N D T H E STUDENT MATINEE P E R FO RMA NC E A N D UTI L IZ E T HIS ST U DY G UI D E ’ SEXT E NS I O N A CT IV IT I ES W I L L B E A B L E TO : · D es c ri b e h ow b a l l e ts t e l l s t o ri es wi t h o u t us i n g w o rds ; · Us e w o rds a n d / o r pi c t u r es t o s u m m a riz e t h es t o ry o f The N u tcracker ; · I d e n ti fy d i ff e re n t c o u n t ri es a n d a n i m a ls t h a ti n f l u e n c e Act I I of The N u tcracker ; · D e m o ns t ra t e a p p ro p ri at e a u di e n c e b e h av i o r . Artists of Houston Ballet in Stanton Welch ’s The Nutcracker. Photo by Amitava Sarkar (2019), 4 ATTENDING A BALLET PERFORMANCE Going to see a ballet performance is the SAME as going to a movie: · The lights dim before the performance begins and the theater stays dark during the ballet. · Audience members are expected to quietly sit in their seats during the performance. · Audience members may NOT take any pictures or video during the performance. This is distracting to the dancers and other audience members, AND The Nutcracker is copyrighted artistic material. · All cell phones and

FAQs

What is a sensory friendly performance in this guide?

A sensory friendly performance is an interactive, educational presentation tailored for audiences with neurological differences. Houston Ballet adapts the performance to support sensory accessibility while extending learning beyond the show.

What should attendees expect when attending the ballet performance?

The guide explains arrival and departure logistics, that lights dim and the theater stays dark, and that audiences must sit quietly. It also specifies no pictures or video during the performance and to power off all electronic devices.

Which learning outcomes does the study guide target for students?

Students are expected to describe how ballets tell stories without words, summarize The Nutcracker using words and/or pictures, identify countries and animals influencing Act II, and demonstrate appropriate audience behavior.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Aditya