Ballet West's The Nutcracker

Ballet West brings The Nutcracker back to the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre this winter, with performances running Saturday, December 5 through December 26. It's a production with some real local history behind it: it was first staged in 1944 by Ballet West founder Willam Christensen, and it's billed as America's first Nutcracker—the oldest in the country. The state of Utah eventually designated it a Living Historic Landmark, the first time that honor was ever given to a ballet.

What makes this version stand out from the usual holiday production is the cast. The story is carried by around 81 children drawn from community auditions, so the stage is filled with young dancers rather than just a few professionals. The music is Tchaikovsky's original score, performed live by the Ballet West Orchestra, which gives the whole thing a full, orchestral sound you won't get from a recording.

If you're planning to bring the kids, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The show is recommended for ages 4 and up; no babes in arms are allowed, and children younger than 4 aren't admitted. The run at the Capitol Theatre is presented by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and if you can't make it to downtown Salt Lake, the company also stages performances in Ogden at Weber State University's Val A. Browning Center, Austad Auditorium.

So, if you're looking for a holiday tradition that's actually rooted here, this is it. The run starts Saturday, December 5, at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, and continues through December 26.