As it has done since 1996, the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie will stage the New Paltz Ballet Theatre's annual performance of The Nutcracker, on Saturday, December 12 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday, December 13 matinee at 3 p.m. This year's production involves a total of 70 dancers, a cast tagged by co-director Peter Naumann as being "the most talented group of dancers we've ever had," including two new principals: Muscovite Alexei Agoudine and Violeta Angelova of Bulgaria. Currently a dancer at American Ballet Theatre, Agoudine was a Silver medalist at the fourth International Ballet Competition in Vienna and a Bronze medalist at the seventh New York International Ballet Competition, and is a recipient of the Rudolf Nureyev award. Angelova, now with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company, has toured extensively in the US and internationally, performing classical and modern works by contemporary choreographers.

A Christmas classic, with its giant mice and toy soldiers battling it out in a realm of magic and mystery, The Nutcracker's mythology comes from a 19th century tale of youthful longing and devotion. Throw in a fairy from a sugary kingdom, lots of snow and a dream sequence, then put all the characters on their toes, and you have a fantasy worthy of Tchaikovsky's attention. The original story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann was first revised by Alexander Dumas, and was then set to music by the great composer in 1892. The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, was an instant hit in St. Petersburg, but gained popularity in the US in the 1950s - perhaps due to the advent of mass media, which exposed the symphony and fanciful ballet characters to millions of American children.

Naumann is excited to report that The Nutcracker cast includes 15 students of the New Paltz School of Ballet who were in performances with two major companies this last summer, the American School of Ballet and the New York City Ballet: a development that comes out of NPBT's commitment to giving local students exposure to a professional setting and world-renowned guest dancers. NPBT is a not-for-profit dance company that also operates NPSB under the co-directorship of Naumann and his spouse Lisa Naumann. For further information visit www.npsballet.com or call (845) 255-0044.

Tickets to The Nutcracker are $27 for adults, $24 for students and seniors and $22 for Bardavon members, and can be purchased at the Bardavon box office at 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie, (845) 473-2072; or at the UPAC box office at 601 Broadway in Kingston, (845) 339-6088; or through TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000.