Figure 1.--These boys are performing the opening party scene in a production of "The Nutcracker". |
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Several classic ballets have parts for children, including boys. These ballets have a variety of parts for children. Some require almost no ballet training. Other parts require very demanding training. As fewer boys in America articipate in ballet than girls, these parts are sometimes danced by girls. The costuming varies subsantially, depending on the production. Some of the classical ballets in which boys have roles include: Hansel and Gretle, The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, the Queen of Spades, and many more. The roles and thus the costumes in these ballets are higly varied. There are some parts for boys in period dress. Other parts range from princes to clowns, mice, soldiers, and much more. Several classic ballets have parts for children, including boys.
Only a few ballets offer large numbers of roles for boys. Some of the classical ballets in which boys have roles include: Hansel and Gretle, The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, the Queen of Spades, and many more. Many other ballets have a few minor parts for boys. Because of the small numbers of boys who do ballet in many counties, girls may take many of these roles, even roles that clearly require boys such as the toy soldiers in the Nutcracker. Sometimes non-dancers are recruited for boy roles such as the boys in the party scene at the beginning of the Nutcracker.
The roles and thus the costumes in these ballets are higly varied. Some ballets are realistic. Others are highly styalized. There are some parts for boys in period dress. Other parts range from princes to clowns, mice, soldiers, and much more. Several classic ballets have large numbers of such parts for children, including boys. HBC has numerous images of boys costumed for such parts, but often the title of the opera in which they appeared is unavailable.
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