Sugar Plum Samba

American pop culture is full of examples of the merging and melding of different artistic styles that end up with surprising and entertaining results. This work for young band is no exception as the timeless music of Tchaikovsky often heard at the holidays trades in ballet shoes for guiros and timbales. Many of the original rhythms of the ballet music have been altered to convey an authentic-sounding samba dance style. Holding true to the form of the original work, this setting of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy presents a decidedly different twist on a holiday classic, allowing students to learn to play a wonderful Latin dance style.