Visions of

sugar plums will dance this weekend when the Fayette

Ballet presents its 12th annual production of the holiday

classic, "The Nutcracker."

"The

Nutcracker" is the tale of a little girl, Clara, who

falls asleep one Christmas Eve with a magical Nutcracker.

She dreams of a world of magic where the Christmas tree

grows and the Nutcracker comes to life to lead an army of

toy soldiers against the Mouse King and his followers.

Later, the Nutcracker becomes a handsome prince and takes

Clara to the Kingdom of Sweets, where they are greeted by

the Sugar Plum Fairy and entertained by dancers from

different lands.

The lead

roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier will be

performed by guest artists Shelley Grames and Anthony

Parkes. They will be supported by a cast of 125 area

dancers, including the advanced and professional dancers

of the Fayette Ballet. Grames is a principal dancer with

the Gainesville Ballet and also dances with the Atlanta

Ballet and the Ruth Mitchell Company. Parks is a former

principal dancer with the Royal Ballet and is well known

in dancing circles for his outstanding performing and

partnering. The production is also enhanced by beautiful

costumes and lavish sets and scenery.

The coveted

role of "Clara," the little girl who travels

through the Land of Snow and Kingdom of Sweets with her

charming Nutcracker Prince, will be shared by four young

area dancers: Nikki Waldrop, Peachtree City, will perform

Friday evening; Amber Lewis, Rex, will perform at the

Saturday matinee, while Jenna Earle of Fayetteville will

dance Saturday evening. Brianna Jackson of Fayetteville

will perform the final performance during the Sunday

matinee. Both Earle and Jackson danced as Clara in last

year's production and have performed in Fayette Ballet's

"Nutcracker" the past eight years.

"We

are especially pleased with our efforts this year,"

said Beverly Williamson, director of Fayette Ballet.

"We promise a professional and enchanting

production. Our audiences no longer have to travel to

Atlanta or Macon to enjoy a professional production at

affordable prices for the family."

Fayette

Ballet will present "The Nutcracker" Nov. 19

-21. The show will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov.

19, at 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday and at 3 p.m Sunday.

Reserved tickets are $8, $10, and $12.50 and are on sale

now at The Regions Bank in Peachtree City and

Fayetteville and at the Fayette Ballet studio in

Fayetteville.

For advance

reservations, call the Fayette Ballet at 770-461-0976.

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