After telling friends I was taking my five-year-old daughter to see Alabama Ballet’s The Nutcracker this season, I got some strange looks. “Isn’t she going to be bored?” “Will she be quiet/still enough?” I was a little nervous to find out, TBH. She was used to children’s theatre productions where there is narration and dialogue, and lots of audience participation. With ballet: not so much. Adding to the chaos, my 8-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter came, too. I went into the night knowing that it could turn out to be a complete and total disaster.

If you’re not familiar with the story of The Nutcracker, here’s a quick summary. Young Marie (called Clara in some versions) is given a nutcracker doll for Christmas. He comes alive and defeats the evil Mouse King (soooo creepy!!) in a tame, non-scary battle. Afterwards, the two go together to a magical kingdom populated by dolls, sweets, and flowers.

The beginning party scene sets the stage for the story. There are tons of children running around so kids in the audience feel like part of the action right away. Marie and her Nutcracker-come-to-life are fun to watch as they work together to defeat the Mouse King, breaking an ancient curse and turning the Nutcracker into a prince. Next comes the Snowflake scene, which has always a favorite of mine as dancers move swiftly and silently in a dark forest. It’s a magical moment when snowflakes suddenly start to fall, first on the dancers and, then, to the delight of literally every person, on the audience. Beautiful child angels seem to float across the stage holding candles. Gigantic Mother Ginger comes onstage waving to the crowd while tiny Polichenelle (adorable and not scary) clowns run out from her skirt, providing the perfect amount of silliness amidst the technically and visually stunning ballet. The dancing sweets are high-energy with spirited jumps and quick feet. The final send-off is particularly fun for kids and a perfect ending for the beautiful and engaging story the dancers have told.

I’m relieved to say my kids were spellbound from the opening strains of music until curtain call (with a break for antsiness at intermission). The Nutcracker is so beautifully presented by Alabama Ballet, words and explanations aren’t needed. Tchaikovsky’s score will be familiar enough after being used in commercials (like this insane one), cartoons, and movies that even young kids will recognize and enjoy it. The costumes in this production are just stunning with intricate details and bright colors. My kids loved the costumes that looked like candy because: candy. My youngest is, of course, captivated by sparkly tiaras and fluffy tutus so she loved Dewdrop and Sugarplum Fairies, and the beautiful pink ombre Flowers.
Here’s what my kiddos said about their favorite parts:

11-year-old: “When it snowed in the theatre was the best! I also liked the Mouse King – he was fun!” P.S. I don’t think you’re supposed to like the Mouse King but 11-year-olds are weird so…

8-year-old: “I liked the candy canes and their hula-hoops.”

5-year-old: “When the sleigh came and they were in it and the Sugar Plum Fairy when she was dancing with the prince.”

If you’ve never been to an Alabama Ballet performance, you should know that we are extremely fortunate to have such incredible talent here. Alabama Ballet is one of only EIGHT companies IN THE WORLD official licensed to perform The Nutcracker with George Balanchine’s classic choreography and there’s a reason they were given that honor. So, not only is the production gorgeous, it’s also very rare and special.

Other people have to travel hours to see this choreography; you have only to get yourself to Samford University’s Wright Center in Homewood. If you’ve seen The Nutcracker ballet before but have never seen Alabama Ballet’s version, you should really consider remedying that between now and December 23rd. Oh, and take your five-year-old!

Remaining Show Schedule:
SATURDAY DECEMBER 15
2:30 PM
SATURDAY DECEMBER 15
7:30 PM
SUNDAY DECEMBER 16
2:30 PM
FRIDAY DECEMBER 21
7:30 PM
SATURDAY DECEMBER 22
2:30 PM
SATURDAY DECEMBER 22
7:30 PM
SUNDAY DECEMBER 23
2:30 PM

The holidays are one of the most wonderful times of the year but they can create some dangers that we don’t usually encounter on the daily basis the rest of the year. Keep you and your family safe this season with these tips from Children’s of Alabama.

Fire Hazards

The National Child Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration estimates that there are 240 house fires from Christmas trees alone and 150 fir es from holiday lights each year. When deciding on a Christmas tree this year, make sure it is fresh and watered appropriately. The tree needles should be green, and the stump sticky with sap and they should be placed away from any heat sources that may cause it to catch fire. You should water the tree daily, and if you notice the tree beginning to dry out and die, you should remove the tree from your home. All artificial trees should be flame resistant.

Poisoning Risks

Many holiday plants can be poisonous if ingested. This includes mistletoe, holly, and Jerusalem cherry plants. Symptoms of potential plant poisoning are rashes, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you suspect that your child has eaten any part of the plant, please contact the Regional Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Bubble lights and snow sprays can also be poisonous to children. Bubble lights contain a hazardous chemical called methylene chloride and should not be ingested.

Medication Risks

With your holiday parties, make sure guests and relatives coming into your home keep their medications out of reach for your children. Store all medicines — prescription and nonprescription — out of sight and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet. Even items that seem harmless, such as mouthwash, can be hazardous if ingested in large quantities by children. All packages and bottles should be child resistant. If you are visiting someone else’s home, make sure your kids are in a safe area of the house that is properly childproofed.

Alcohol and Food Poisoning

The risk of alcohol and food poisoning is all too common amongst children during the holidays. To lower the risk, make sure you dispose of all empty or partially empty containers immediately. All alcohol should be kept away and out of reach of children. Practice food safety by thoroughly washing hands, utensils, dishes, and anything else that comes in contact with raw meat, including poultry and fish, raw eggs before and after use. Store your leftovers properly, and heat them thoroughly before serving again.

Choking and Swallowing

Tree ornaments, light bulbs, icicles, tinsel, and small toys are all potential choking hazards for small children. If it is small enough to fit in a baby or toddler’s mouth, then it is too small to play with. Button batteries are common in most children’s toys and are very dangerous if swallowed. The symptoms of button battery ingestion are coughing, choking, irritability, loss of appetite, and fever. If swallowed, visit your nearest emergency department or call 911. Small treats such as peanuts or popcorn, tree needles, angel hair (made from finely spun glass) and ornament hangers are all potentially harmful and should be kept away from children.

Gift Giving

The number one thing to remember when picking gifts for your little ones this season is that you must choose a gift that is age appropriate. For young children, toys without strings, batteries and removable parts are best and reduce the risk of choking.

If your child ingests something toxic this holiday season, call the Regional Poison Control Center at Children’s of Alabama at 1-800-222-1222.  The Regional Poison Control Center can give recommendations for how to treat ingestion as well as dermal and ocular exposures.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient and outpatient services throughout central Alabama. Ranked among the best pediatric medical centers in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s provided care for youngsters from every county in Alabama, 45 other states and six foreign countries last year, representing more than 677,000 outpatient visits and more than 15,000 inpatient admissions. With more than 2 million square feet, Children’s is the third largest pediatric medical facility in the U.S. More information is available at childrensal.org.

It seems as if every year the holiday season begins earlier.  Along-side Halloween costumes in the stores are dancing Santa’s and reindeer. But in our mad dash to get our home decorated for the holidays and organize the gatherings, it’s easy to forget about the additional fire hazards that come with this time of year.  To keep your family safe, keep these tips in mind to prevent fires:

Christmas Tree – Let’s face it, bringing a 4 ft. to 8 ft. tree into your home that is only being held up by a small stand with four screws is just asking for trouble with a toddler in the home.  I can remember at least one time in my childhood hearing the tree come crashing to the floor in the middle of the night.  Toddlers will naturally be attracted by this new item in your home and equally fascinated by the lights.   To prevent the tree from falling wrap green gardening twine around the mid-section of the tree.  There are extension gates that can be assembled as large as you require.  Once you have placed the lights on the tree, be sure to tape any extra length of cord directly to the wall to prevent your toddler from pulling on it and pets from biting it and potentially causing a fire.

Ornaments – While you may have many family ornaments that you have used to decorate your tree in the past, store any glass ones away for the next few years.  Along with the potential risk of broken glass cutting your child, a curious toddler will try to put one in her mouth.  Make sure smaller ornaments are placed towards the top of the tree and consider decorating the bottom with ribbons or larger cloth-covered ornaments.

Christmas Tree Lights – Never attach more than three strands of lights together. Pick up some extension cords and read the directions carefully for the best way to light your tree. Some stores may even carry cords designed to go up the trunk of your tree to individually light each strand. Also, make sure you keep them high enough so that your pets don’t think they’re chew toys! Electrical fires are no way to start your holiday season.

Fireplace – Nothing is cozier than a roaring fire but make sure children are aware of the dangers.  If you have a fireplace in your home, make sure you securely fasten gate or screen in front to protect your area rugs, carpets and furniture from loose embers, and to keep your children safe from burns. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby at all times.

Cooking – Whether your kids are helping you bake a gingerbread house or just heating up a cup of hot chocolate, establish some safety rules.  Make sure they understand to stay away from hot appliances or plugging in electrical appliances with wet hands.

Candles – It’s easy to forget and leave a candle burning when you go to bed. There’s also the chance of a taper candle falling over and igniting a table cloth or drape.  There is a wide array of scented electric candles that will look just as beautiful and be much safer to use

Information By: The Experts at Safer Alarms