Russian Dance. Movements 4 to 7 of the suite depict a party scene in the Land of Sweets, welcoming the protagonist Clara, and consist of character dances performed by fairies symbolizing sweets and beverages from various countries. The Russian Dance symbolizes the spirit of barley sugar (a twisted candy with a simple taste), but due to the unfamiliarity of this confection, it is more commonly known by the name of the dance, “Trepak,” rather than its symbolic designation.

Trepak is a folk dance performed by peasants in Russia (particularly the Ukrainian region), and its vigorous character is consistently depicted.