The production of the three great Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) ballets in St. Petersburg represents the supreme expression of the classical dance and thus created the base for the renaissance of the ballet in the 20th century. Act II of ”The Nutcracker” which was premiered in 1892 takes place in the Palace of the Sugar Plum Kingdom. When you listen to the world-famous dances – among which appears the Russian dance Trepak - of this act today, it is hard to believe that Tchaikovsky put aside the work aside for some time, as it inspiration seemed to have deserted him.