Nutcracker

With holiday songs making their way onto radio playlists, and decorations already decking the malls, it's time to get into the seasonal spirit. One way to get into the swing of things is to catch one of the many area versions of The Nutcracker. Here is a sampling of local performances: The Baltimore Ballet Company: The Nutcracker. Students and Baltimore Ballet dancers perform at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 and 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson.

Just a few days before their live performances of "The Nutcracker," the intensity and concentration were evident on the faces of the teenage performers at the Carroll County Dance Center in Sykesville. Each of the cast members at this rehearsal had previously performed in the legendary play, and there was a serious overtone to their latest production. This weekend, their steady rehearsal schedule will give way to the center's full-scale presentation of Tchaikovsky's classic. After two years at the Gordon Center in Owings Mills, "The Nutcracker" will return to the local stage on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Both performances will be held at the Carroll Community College's Scott Theater, 1601 Washington Road, Westminster.

"The Nutcracker" wasn't always a Christmas tradition. As a matter of history, the premiere, which took place in April 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, was created as a treat for the Russian Easter.But once the New York City Ballet offered "The Nutcracker" as a Christmas ballet, it became a fixture of the American holiday calendar.To set off our list of local "Nutcracker" productions, and to add to your store of "Nutcracker" lore, here's our very own trivia game.1. The writer of the story on which "The Nutcracker" is based was:(a)

The holiday season wouldn't be the holiday season without colorful music and dance events. And, just as department stores break out the Christmas decorations earlier and earlier, some performing arts organizations get into the swing before Thanksgiving. A couple of stage versions of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," for example, are already up and running, with more on the way. Handel's evergreen oratorio "Messiah" and Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet "The Nutcracker" will be here in abundance before you know it, along with all sorts of seasonal concerts by any number of ensembles, starting next weekend with a holiday program by the Canadian Tenors.

"The Nutcracker" has become a treasured entertainment tradition of the Christmas season, and again this year a most enchanting version can be found in Annapolis at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. At the Ballet Theatre of Maryland's opening performance, artistic director Dianna Cuatto briefly traced the history of this holiday favorite. Composed by Peter Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa, "The Nutcracker" originally received a cool reception at its Russian premiere in December 1892.

Here's something Howard County can brag about: It hosts the state's only "Nutcracker" holiday extravaganza on ice, perhaps even on the entire East Coast. Presented each year by the Columbia Figure Skating Club , it's a pretty cool show in more ways than one. Dozens of darling little skaters share the ice stage with some real pros, making this a must-see family outing for all "Nutcracker" fans. My family wouldn't ream of missing a production. I actually prefer the Sunday-before final dress rehearsal.

Baltimore will get a welcome addition to this year's slate of holiday celebrations with the world premiere of a new Nutcracker at the Hippodrome. This Nutcracker, which will draw on American history, was choreographed by Septime Webre, artistic director of the Washington Ballet. It will be at the Hippodrome for seven performances Dec. 2-5. Webre's version will be set in a Washington mansion in 1882. In Clara's dream, the Nutcracker will resemble George Washington, and the Rat King may call to mind England's King George III. The great battle between the rats and the toys, of course, will feature Redcoats and the ragtag Continental Army.

The Moscow Ballet opened its six-day run of "The Nutcracker" Tuesday evening at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre to an audience primed to see a truly Russian performance. While the audience was not disappointed with the flourish of talent (both Russian and local), the production values were less than glorious and at several points were almost ludicrous.Although newly choreographed by one-time Bolshoi star Stanislav Vlasov, this production felt well-worn. Mr. Vlasov's inspiration was the 1934 Kirov's "Nutcracker," and the costumes and wigs looked as if they had been left in a closet since that production.

The South Laurel Recreation Council will present Nutcracker Fantasy from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Deerfield Run Community Center, 3000 Laurel-Bowie Road. The free presentation by the Bob Brown Puppets will be followed by a visit from Santa and friends. Participants are invited to take a camera. The council will also continue conducting Holiday Workshops through Saturday at the Montpelier Carriage House and the Deerfield Run Community Center, Route 197, Laurel. Information: 301-776-2805.

THE MARYLAND BALLET performs the holiday classic 8 p.m. tomorrow, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday in Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College. The performance schedule will be repeated Dec. 15 and 16. Tickets are $18 for the matinee performances and $20 for evening performances. Students and seniors have a $2 discount, and tickets for children younger than 12 are $9. Group rates are available. Call 576-2400.As part of its Winter Celebration, the Baltimore School for the Arts presents "The Nutcracker" Dec. 14, Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. The performances take place in the Schaefer Ballroom at the School for the Arts, 712 Cathedral St. Call 396-1185 for tickets and times.

"The Nutcracker" will grace the stage of the Amoss Center in Bel Air as Harford Dance Theatre presents the holiday production Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and 2. There will be a full-length performance on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. In addition, there will be matinees for youth ages 5 to 12 with post-show events on Dec. 1 and 2 at 1 and 4 p.m., where audience members can meet Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, Mother Ginger and the Sugar Plum Fairy. All of their favorite ballerinas will be signing autographs, so be sure to bring a pen. Tickets cost $8 to $15 and are available online at tickets.harford.edu or in person at the HCC Ticket Office in the Chesapeake Center.

"The Nutcracker" has become a treasured entertainment tradition of the Christmas season, and again this year a most enchanting version can be found in Annapolis at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. At the Ballet Theatre of Maryland's opening performance, artistic director Dianna Cuatto briefly traced the history of this holiday favorite. Composed by Peter Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petipa, "The Nutcracker" originally received a cool reception at its Russian premiere in December 1892.

Here's something Howard County can brag about: It hosts the state's only "Nutcracker" holiday extravaganza on ice, perhaps even on the entire East Coast. Presented each year by the Columbia Figure Skating Club , it's a pretty cool show in more ways than one. Dozens of darling little skaters share the ice stage with some real pros, making this a must-see family outing for all "Nutcracker" fans. My family wouldn't ream of missing a production. I actually prefer the Sunday-before final dress rehearsal.

The Sugarplum Fairy remains the most challenging role in "The Nutcracker" ballet. A ballerina must be secure in her classical technique and mature in her dramatic skills to excel in this role. She also must be a smart leader on stage as she endeavors to keep all those tiny sugar plum darlings from tripping over one another in the Land of the Sweets. For dancers, being chosen for Clara also elicits "oohs" and "ahs" of envy, for it is she who gets the spotlight as she wins the heart of her Nutcracker Prince.

Want to see a dance critic go berserk? Just take her to a shopping mall during the holidays or watch her in a doctor's office or chain restaurant - anywhere there's likely to be a tinkling waltz composed by Tchaikovsky for his grand sugarplum fantasy ballet, “The Nutcracker.” Faster than you can say “Nutcracker Suite,” said dance critic's pupils will dilate, her lips will begin to quiver, and if she's strong and well trained, she...

The Sugarplum Fairy remains the most challenging role in "The Nutcracker" ballet. A ballerina must be secure in her classical technique and mature in her dramatic skills to excel in this role. She also must be a smart leader on stage as she endeavors to keep all those tiny sugar plum darlings from tripping over one another in the Land of the Sweets. For young dancers, being chosen for Clara also elicits "oohs" and "ahs" of envy, for it is she who gets the spotlight as she wins the heart of her Nutcracker Prince.

'The Nutcracker'Where: Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium, Dulaney Valley Road, Towson.When: Fridays, Dec. 7 and 14, at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays, Dec. 9 and 16, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.Tickets: $18 for matinee performances, $20 for evening performances. Senior, student and group discounts are available.Call: 576-2400. The Nutcracker ballet has always been associated with the magic of dreams come true. And for one 13-year-old dancer this year, the dream of being a ballerina is being realized.

The Nutcracker will grace the stage of the Amoss Center in Bel Air as Harford Dance Theatre presents the holiday production Nov. 26 and 27 and Dec. 4. There will be a full-length performance on Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. In addition, there will be matinees for youth ages 5 to 12 with post-show events on Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 at 1 and 4 p.m., when audience members can meet Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, Mother Ginger, the Sugar Plum Fairy and Uncle Drosselmeier....

Plenty of young girls dream of performing with a prestigious ballet company, and for about 50 of them from the greater Baltimore area the first step was Sunday. During a marathon, multi-hour session at the Moving Company Dance Center in Cockeysville, the girls, and a couple of boys, auditioned to perform a version of the holiday classic "The Nutcracker" with the Moscow Ballet Company. It was the 19th year that local ballet students have auditioned to perform with the Russian troupe.