If you are in the Northern hemisphere, you are probably still in or just leaving the depths of winter. It will look different depending on where you are, but we are in the darkest and coldest time of year. However, there are some good things that come with winter! Luckily, with technology we are still able to enjoy the arts online, including ballet. Although there aren’t many winter-y ballets, there are a few and they are wonderful. Today I’m going to share my top 3 winter-themed ballets with you, to embrace the season! (And I’ll share if you can find them online.)
The Nutcracker
I’m not including The Nutcracker formally in this list, because I would argue it is Christmas-y, and not winter-y. However, I do know that there are a lot of people who are used to seeing Nutcracker in January, due to their local/touring company’s performing schedule. If you are interested in watching The Nutcracker (and it is always a great show to watch), I’ve got a post here on how you can watch it from home!
A Cinderella Story, Northern Ballet
On the front of, Cinderella isn’t necessarily a winter-themed ballet. However, this version from the Northern Ballet is absolutely a winter spectacle, in the best possible way. Set in Russia in the winter, it couldn’t be more perfect for the season! (I wish that more ballets would be set in the winter, I think that they always have the BEST costumes.) The story from Northern Ballet:
Act 1
The countryside outside Moscow
Father, Count Serbrenska, gives her a present and they are joined by Cinderella’s Stepmother and her Stepsisters, Natasha and Sophia.
Prince and Princess Mulakov, who are good friends of the Count, arrive with their son, Prince Mikhail. As the afternoon continues, the young people play and the adults stroll or join a shooting party on the other side of the river.
Natasha and Sophia decide to play a game with Cinderella’s shawl, the gift from her Father, and accidentally throw it to the other side of the bridge. Having been warned not to cross the river the girls do not follow. Cinderella’s Father, seeing how upset his daughter is, goes to retrieve the shawl when tragedy strikes.
Cinderella’s Stepmother, falling into grief and despair, reaches out to her daughters but, blaming her for the Count’s death, offers no comfort to Cinderella.
Summer passes and as the bereaved family arrive at their new house in Moscow, Cinderella’s Stepmother makes it clear that Cinderella’s new life is no longer as a daughter but as a servant for her family.
A winter market in Moscow
Time has passed and Cinderella is shopping at the winter market. Released momentarily from the drudgery of her servant life she enjoys watching the spectacle of the Stilt Walkers, Acrobats, Jugglers and a Magician.
The Prince and his friends watch on as the Magician starts his performance but his tricks are unimpressive. Cinderella recognises the Prince as the young boy from the picnic years ago. The Prince doesn’t even look at the poor young woman that Cinderella has become.
Cinderella returns home followed by her Stepsisters who are excited about the events at the market. They want Cinderella to join in with their games but the Stepmother reminds her that she is not to have anything to do with her daughters. Cinderella reaches out to her Stepmother who rejects her once again.
The crystal lake
Cinderella flees to the beautiful crystal lake; her sole refuge from the life she leads. The lake is full of skaters and amongst them is the Prince, his friends and the Magician from the market. Cinderella’s ice-dancing is impressive and catches everyone’s attention.
On returning home, Cinderella finds her Stepsisters have received invitations to a winter ball. Cinderella has been invited too but her Stepmother rips up her invitation and reminds Cinderella that she belongs downstairs.
Cold and alone in the kitchen Cinderella thinks sadly of the past and of what her life has become. Hearing a knock at the door she finds the Magician from the market square shivering in the dark. Finding comfort in his company she invites him in. The Magician, inspired by Cinderella’s generosity, insists that Cinderella will go to the ball. He creates amazing magic and by so doing changes Cinderella’s destiny.
Act II
The winter ball
Guests arrive at the winter ball, including the Prince, his parents and his best friend, Nikolai. All the ladies hope the Prince will choose them to dance. Cinderella arrives shimmering like ice and no-one, except her Stepmother and Stepsisters know who she is. The Prince asks Cinderella to dance.
Cinderella’s Stepmother tries to interrupt them and Cinderella runs away, ashamed that her life as a servant might be revealed. In her haste she leaves behind one of her crystal slippers!
Cinderella runs home, her clothes returned to normal, her sleigh gone – it seems the magic has ended.
The drawing room
The Prince is in search of the girl from the ball and shows the family the slipper. He ignores Cinderella as she serves the company but her Stepmother shows the Prince that this is the girl who fits the shoe. Feeling fooled and embarrassed he becomes angry and flees the room.
The kitchen
Cinderella is humiliated and for the first time, stands up to her Stepmother. No longer accepting her servant’s life, she leaves.
The crystal lake
The Magician is skating on the lake when the Prince arrives in a very agitated state. Nikolai offers to break the shoe putting an end to the Prince’s woe. The Prince quickly stops him, realising that his heart belongs to the woman who fits the shoe.
Cinderella appears at the lake to say goodbye. Watched by his friends and the Magician, the Prince implores Cinderella to stay, apologising for his behaviour and finally declaring his love for her.
Can You Watch the Northern Ballet’s Cinderella Story Online?
Sadly, I’ve not found it anywhere online, and it doesn’t appear to be available on DVD. However, they do have a half hour rehearsal on their YouTube channel! It doesn’t seem to be on their upcoming 2021 performance schedule either. However, given that everything will be up in the air for quite some time in regards to in person performances, I would keep checking back if you are Leeds based.
Les Patineurs, Frederick Ashton
Les Patineurs is one of my favourite ballets, winter-themed or not. One of Frederick Ashton’s creations, it is less than half an hour long! There isn’t an elaborate plot or complicated characters- it is simply skaters on a winter afternoon! (The Royal Ballet provides this synopsis: “Groups of skaters – by turns graceful experts, comically clumsy beginners, romantic couples and confident show-offs – take to the ice on a frozen lake one winter’s day.”) The music was arranged by Constant Lambert (Margot Fonteyn’s lover- yes! More on that in a later post), and Margot Fonteyn and Robert Helpmann starred in the main pas de deux in it’s 1937 premiere.
Can You Watch Les Patineurs Online?
I have good news- you can watch this online for free! I have included one version from Youtube above, but I’ve found a few on there. As with many cultural performances, they may be removed but there is a good likelihood it will be reuploaded. They are older performances, but they are still wonderful. (If you can purchase a subscription or a digital copy of a ballet, please do so- now more than ever, the arts can use your support.)
The Snow Queen, Scottish Ballet
If there was ever a perfectly winter-themed ballet, I would say that it is The Snow Queen. This is the Scottish Ballet’s most well-known production in the last few years, and for excellent reason. Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, you might recognise it as the basis for Frozen. It is set to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov, and you couldn’t ask for more stunning costumes and sets. While Les Patineurs is wonderful as an abstract ballet, I love story ballets, and The Snow Queen keeps you captivated from start to finish. Here is the synopsis from the Scottish Ballet:
Act I
The Enchanted Mirror
The young Snow Queen and her sister, the Summer Princess, live in an isolated Ice Palace. The Summer Princess longs to leave and begs the Snow Queen to use her enchanted mirror to show the future. Looking through the mirror, the Summer Princess can see herself, many years later, embracing a handsome stranger.
Unwilling to wait a moment longer, she decides she must leave to find her true love. The Snow Queen begs her to stay, but the Summer Princess disguises herself and flees, leaving the Snow Queen alone. The Snow Queen grows angry as she contemplates a life alone and, in her rage, she shatters her enchanted mirror and vows to bring her sister back to the Ice Palace.
The Busy Marketplace
The Summer Princess lives for many years on the outskirts of a busy town. She is known locally as Lexi, a pickpocket.
One crisp winter’s day, handsome Kai proposes to his beloved Gerda and they become engaged. Watching on, Lexi recognises Kai as the stranger she saw in the mirror and waits for her moment to meet him.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Lexi works the crowd but gets caught in the act. Kai, feeling sorry for her, helps her avoid capture with an embrace. Gerda is rightfully suspicious of Lexi’s intentions.
A travelling circus arrives — acrobats, clowns, a strongman and a ballerina each take their turn as the Ringmaster gathers an audience.
As the crowd is entertained by the circus, the Snow Queen appears, freezing time. She begs her sister to return to the ice palace with her. Lexi refuses and the Snow Queen blows shards of glass from the enchanted mirror into Kai’s eye, causing him to see all that is beautiful as ugly. He becomes mean and spiteful as the shards find their way to his heart, turning it to ice.
The Ringmaster performs a disappearing trick with Kai, but the Snow Queen uses the opportunity to freeze time once more, and Lexi witnesses her leading Kai away. With the circus over and night falling, a worried Gerda is left alone with only the mistrustful Lexi to help her.
Act II
The Fortune Teller
Lexi leads Gerda far away, deep in the forest to visit Mazelda, a fortune teller. Mazelda reveals that Kai has indeed been stolen away by the Snow Queen and bewitched to forget his true love. Lexi tells Gerda there is no hope of getting him back, she knows her sister’s powers. Gerda will not give up and she sets out alone to find him.
The Forest
As Gerda travels through a wintry forest, the Snow Queen tries to block her path: Jack Frosts, Snowflakes and Snow Wolves surround her, but eventually she reaches the Ice Palace.
The Ice Palace
At the Ice Palace, Gerda finds Kai bewitched by the Snow Queen; he no longer recognises her. Furious, the Snow Queen attacks Gerda with a shard from the enchanted mirror but, from nowhere, Lexi comes to Gerda’s rescue. The sisters battle until they both fall through the enchanted mirror… and the Snow Queen’s spell is broken.
Can You Watch The Snow Queen Online?
Another yes for watching this online! As of January 2021, you can watch The Snow Queen on Marquee TV. I have an entire post on Marquee TV here, and why it’s a fantastic investment, but the short of it is that it is an arts and culture streaming service. For $8 a month, you can watch all of ballet, opera, and theatre that you could want, and that includes The Snow Queen.
Which of these winter-themed ballets is at the top of your list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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