The Nutcracker tradition continues at Mayo Center

Morristown — The holidays would just not be the same without spending a little time with New Jersey Ballet’s ageless fantasy about a little girl named Clara and her amazing Nutcracker. The ballet, with more than 100 performers and full orchestra, will run for 11 performances, Dec. 16 through 26 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Tickets are $19 to $59. "It was wonderful to have such an overwhelming response to our first season of Nutcracker at MPAC," said Ballet Director Carolyn Clark. "We're looking forward to returning for the holidays with our company of international artists, student performers and the wonderful orchestra." The ballet company has been performing at the Mayo Performing Arts Center since it re-opened in 1996 and has established a regular season of Saturday night performances and several matinees for kids and families. This year will be the second year that New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker will be performed there. New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker debuted at Paper Mill Playhouse in 1971 with Edward Villella, then a star with New York City Ballet, as the Cavalier. Today, after almost 800 performances and a million viewers, it has become a cherished holiday tradition with generations of theatergoers throughout New Jersey and beyond. The production began touring after fire destroyed Paper Mill in 1980, and continues to travel around the state each year. This year’s stops include bergenPAC in Englewood and Middle Township PAC in Cape May Court House. In past years, New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker has also toured to other states and in 2008, it became the first full length classical ballet ever performed in India, where it packed that country’s new Performing Arts Center in Mumbai. The heart of New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker is the company itself; a troupe of professional artists of international reputation composed of 15 dancers from seven countries - Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Japan, Russia and the United States. These dancers have toured on every continent with such internationally renowned companies as the Bolshoi, Ballet Argentino, Russian Imperial Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, and Ochi International Ballet of Japan. Many have also performed with such acclaimed American companies as Stars of American Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Austin, and the international tour of Riverdance. If you go New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker Mayo Performing arts Center 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ Tickets $19-59 Friday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26 at 1 and 6 p.m. Box office 973-539-8008 www.mayoarts.org