Volume 1 Chapter 137 The Semifinal (1/2)
”I think I will visit the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles,” Zenna said.
”Ah, I didn't go to the Palace of Versailles. I should tag along with you.” Han Luo fluttered her eyelashes and started acting cute to make Zenna agree.
”Can I come as well?” Jared tested the waters.
”The more, the merrier.” Zenna giggled.
Before they headed toward the back stage, the three of them put their hands on each other's shoulders and stood for a moment for the final encouragement.
Han Luo spoke with confidence, ”We can do it. We will go onto the stage and nail it.” Somehow, her confidence reached Jared and Zenna's hearts and calmed them down.
”Yes, we can do it!” Jared exclaimed with hope and assurance.
Zenna gathered some courage and declared, ”We will win!”
Jared chose 'The Nutcracker' for his semifinal performance. The Nutcracker is an 1892 two-act ballet.
In Act I, it is showed that on the Christmas Eve, family and friends gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the party. After the party begins, a mysterious figure enters the room. That is Drosselmeyer, a local Councilman, Magician, and Clara's godfather who is also a talented toymaker. He gives Clara and her younger sister Fritz a wooden nutcracker by taking away four dolls full of life. The girls become sad after losing such amazing dolls but Clara falls in love with the wooden nutcracker at her first encounter. However, Fritz breaks it out of anger and sadness. In the middle of the night, Clara secretly goes downstairs to check on her beloved nutcracker. However, when she wanted to touch it, the clock chimes at midnight and the mice begin to fill the room as well as the nutcracker becomes alive.
That's when Jared appears.
The nutcracker appears to be fighting against the Mouse king leading a troop of mice soldiers. As the Mouse King advances on the still-wounded nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the nutcracker to stab him. The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara in the moonlit night through a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them, beckoning them to his kingdom as the first act ends.
In Act II, Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, currently ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy, in place of the Prince until his return. In honor of the Prince's return with the young lady, they hold a celebration banquet. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance. A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers Clara and the Prince down from their throne. He bows to her, she kisses Clara goodbye, and leads them to a reindeer drawn sleigh. It takes off as they wave goodbye to all the subjects who wave back.
Jared's dancing moves were astonishing. The nineteenth century's costumes and the acting also brought the whole act to life which presented a stunning and award worth performance.