Tis the season when kids and adults go nutty for The Nutcracker ballet. In ballet schools throughout California, costumes are being fitted, backdrops painted, musical scores created and tickets posted for the time honored holiday tradition of the Nutcracker Ballet.

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica is excited about this year's production of The Nutcracker, and invites you to attend their annual lavish production of The Nutcracker, now in its 38th year.

From the moment the lights dim, the audience is transported to a magical world filled with peppermint candy and dancing snowflakes, set to Tchaikovsky's majestic score. It's the traditional full-length ballet, from the Victorian-style party scene to the glittering Sugar Plum Fairy.

Overseeing the production as Artistic Director is Yvonne Mounsey, founder of Westside Ballet of Santa Monica and former principal dancer with New York City Ballet under George Balanchine. During Mounsey's distinguished career with New York City Ballet, she created the role of Center Spanish in Balanchine's original production of The Nutcracker.
Where: Wadsworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Brentwood, CA 90073
When: December 4-5 and December 11-12.
Saturdays: 2 & 7 p.m.
Sundays 1 & 5 p.m.
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com or call 800 982-2787. Ask for the Wadsworth Theatre Nutcracker.
Cost: $30.

For more information, visit www.westsideballet.com.