|  Misha
and Marie are thrilled that Christmas is coming. It’s
a frosty night, the neighbors are all invited, and Peter
the stable boy is sweeping the barn in preparation for
the dancing to come. But there’s a disappointment
in store. Instead of the beautiful doll she’d
hoped for, the only thing strange old Uncle Nikolai
has for Marie is a wooden nutcracker. Marie thinks it’s
a wonderful gift. Little does she know that it will
lead her and her brother on the adventure of a lifetime.
When Misha and Marie finally go to bed on Christmas
Eve, they sleep fitfully and are beset by nightmares.
In one particularly bad dream, they join forces –
unusual for the squabbling children – and conquer
an army that might harm the nutcracker. Their reward
is splendid: they are swept to the realm of the Snow
Queen for a night of wonders.
James Kudelka, former Artistic Director of the National
Ballet of Canada, is one of North America’s foremost
dance artists. His vision of The Nutcracker is elegantly
told by Karen Kain and beautifully rendered by artist
Rajka Kupesic, herself a ballet dancer.
Karen Kain is an internationally renowned ballerina
who became Principal Dancer with the National Ballet
of Canada in 1970. During her career, she has performed
as a guest artist with most of the world’s best-known
ballet companies, and has received many distinguished
awards and honors. She has also been involved in several
major film and television productions. She is a Companion
of the Order of Canada and holds honorary degrees from
Toronto, York, McMaster and Trent Universities. Formerly
the Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, Karen
recently accepted the high profile position of Artistic
Director for The National Ballet of Canada.
Rajka Kupesic was classically trained as a ballerina
and danced for many years in Europe while developing
as a painter. As an artist, she is known for her unique
handling of detail, color, and mood, which infuses the
familiar with an extraordinary quality. Her paintings
have been shown in numerous galleries worldwide and
have been featured in magazines in France, Canada, and
Japan, and in major collections around the world. Her
first book, Claire’s Gift, was awarded the Mr.
Christie’s Book Award for Best Children’s
Book. Rajka’s illustrations also appeared in Tundra
Books’ Maria Chapdelaine which was published in
2004. Rajka Kupesic resides in Toronto with her husband
Zlatko and their sons.
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