"The Nutcracker," composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is a wonderful introduction to storytelling through music and dance. This ballet tells the story of a holiday party, gifts, and dreams, all without saying a word! Listen to the orchestra create the mood of the party, the joy of a special gift, the despair of a broken gift, and the dream of a faraway, magical place. Watch the dancers as they too, tell this story through the beautiful, graceful movements of ballet. This video is over an hour long, but you don't have to watch it all at once. I hope you enjoy it, and will share it with your family and friends!