The Nutcracker Soaps

I remember seeing the Nutcracker Ballet at El Salvador’s national theater for the first time. Though a “Theater”, different kind of performances were done there. It was a bit strange. Right outside the theater were street vendors, heavy foot and car traffic, noise and movements, as it was in the middle of downtown San Salvador. Then you went inside, and a quiet place where culture was nurtured was found.

The second time I saw the nutcracker, was in The States. I still did not quite understand the story line, and it was only until I made this soap that I actually researched it, read about it, and learned to appreciate it.

This article was insightful in case you want to learn more about it.

Perhaps what caught my attention the most was learning about the “failure” the Nutcracker ballet was considered when it first came out. And the fact that its , Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, did not get to see it succeed while he was alive. Nowadays it is such a classic piece, performed every year in most cities with a ballet house. I find so many stories like this in history. Like Van Gogh and Ignaz Semmelweis, Monet’s water lilies exhibit, etcm which were not appreciated by their contemporaries, yet their ideas are now so classic and recognized.

I suppose in a way it should be encouraging for artists who do not see success in their lifetime.

To make the sugar plum fairy/ ballerina, I found myself watching a lot of ballet videos. I learned about Natalia Osipova And I had already heard of Misty Copeland but decided to research more. It is fascinating to me to watch someone who is a master of their craft, who spend their life doing that which brings them joy.

So, here I am, a ballet convert now. I confess I found it boring before, but I believe I would be able to appreciate better now.

It was also interesting learning about the specific instrument used for the Sugar Plum Fairy piece, how it was an innovation itself, and kept it a secret until the ballet was performed the first time.

I made the ballerina and nutcracker out of polymer clay first, then made a silicone mold (with the liquid dishwashing product method). I confess it was not an easy process to make the embeds. It was time consuming and there were lots of trial and errors, however in the end I am happy with the result and with how well they were received.

Here are the recipe links and videos: