1. What is the difference between going to the theatre to see a ballet and seeing a movie at home on video tape or DVD?

[Teachers: In discussing this with your class, certainly live performers in a public setting come to mind. However, one very subtle point is that a tape or DVD exists forever and is the same every time it is played; a live performance is unique and exists only as it is happening.]

2. Ballet dancers have to be strong athletes, just like soccer players and basketball players. Compare the shoes the older ballerinas wore with the shoes worn in these two other sports and how these three types of shoes can be used in other activities and sports.

[Teachers: In discussing this with your class, certainly the soccer cleat, "tennis" shoe, and ballet pointe shoe have marked visual differences. Subtle differences include the fact that cleats and tennis shoes are designed to help the athlete perform better on their respective surfaces, and the ballet pointe shoe is to create an artistic effect of longer lines and grace. Also, soccer cleats and tennis shoes can be used in other sports and the tennis shoe can be worn anywhere. The ballet pointe shoe has only one use!]

3. What do Clara and Fritz tell us about sibling rivalry?

[Teachers: This is a great question, since the ballet dancers never speak; all of the conflict between the sister and brother is pantomimed. Get the class to act out other things that have happened between their own brothers and sisters without using words.]

4. What are some of the things that happen on the stage that tell the audience we have moved from reality to fantasy?

[Teachers: The most evident sign is the Christmas tree growing to an enormous size. Then, obviously the over-sized mice and the moving soldiers, Mother Gigogne with her kids living under her skirt, the fairies and the land of candy, etc.]