Reading the original Hans Christian Andersen tale of “The Little Mermaid” and viewing the Great Performances: The Little Mermaid from the San Francisco Ballet video offers class members an opportunity to consider how artistic decisions made by an author impact influence interpretation. Interviews with John Neumeier, the choreographer for the ballet and Lera Auebach, the composer, give insight into their artistic vision and inspiration. The included discussion questions and learning activities help groups prepare their own adaptations of a well-known fairy tale.