Nutcracker

So this morning Camille and I sat down to watch The Nutcracker. I'd love to be able to take the kids to go see it performed every Christmas but I won't do it until the kids are big enough to sit through it. Until then we are making do with watching it on DVD. (This is the version we have.)


Anyway, Camille was watching it and enjoying it. Somewhere around the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy she started asking me why those dancers were better dancers than she is. I tried explaining that it was because they're grown ups who have spent their whole lives practicing. They probably started dancing very young and worked very hard to get good and are so good they can do it for a job. That's why they get to be on TV.

She had a different answer: "I think it's because they have those pointy shoes. I think if I get some of those pointy shoes I can dance like that."

Me: Really? So you think it's the shoes that make them dance so well, not the years of lessons and practice?

Camille: Yeah. It's those pointy shoes and that they don't have any of that carpet underneath them so they can dance like that.


Then Camille noticed the Cavalier who dances with the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her first comment was that he wasn't very good looking. I pointed out that he was a very good dancer.

Camille: Look! He's wearing ballet shoes! Isn't that funny?
Me: He's wearing boy ballet shoes. Look at his costume. Isn't he handsome?
Camille: Yeah. Hey! I know! I can get some of those pointy shoes and Daddy can get one of those outfits and we can play Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince dancing! Yeah! Isn't that a great idea?

I'm sure Rob would be positively thrilled if I got him some tights for Christmas!