Christmas in the Shenandoah Valley ... "The Nutcracker" performed in Staunton

A holiday classic that has been a part of Staunton for the past 25 years, The Nutcracker returns this weekend with local talent under the direction of the Shenandoah Civic Dance Company.

Made up of local school and home school children and dance alumni, the ballet requires almost 100 children and young adults to fill the parts of dancing mice, wooden soldiers, dancing bakers, dancing clowns, Mother Ginger and the little Gingersnaps, flowers, snowflakes, Snow Queen, Arabian dancers, dancing dolls, Sugar Plum Fairy, party girls and boys, couples, Chinese dancers, Russian dancers, Spanish dancers, little brother Fritz, and most importantly the Nutcracker and Clara. Guest dancer this year is Jurijs Safonovs who was formerly with the Latvian National Opera Ballet.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children. Performances will be held Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton. Tickets may be purchased at Staunton's Bookstack and You're A Star, at Donna's Hallmark in Waynesboro, and at The Exception in Harrisonburg.

See you at The Nutcracker....