The Nutcracker and all that jazz

The classic "Nutcracker" goes modern this weekend as danceSpirit stages "The Nutcracker Ballet - All Jazz'd Up!"

"This is our 10th annual show," said Darin Tedford, studio manager of danceSpirit. "We keep doing it because of the kids, the entertainment, the fun."

The show is a jazzed up version of the original story with lively music and many forms of dance, including tap, jazz, hip hop, acrobatics and ballet.

The cast of 54 ranges in age from 5 to 65 years.

Uncle Drosselmeyer is played by Carson City chiropractor Dr. Bill Bray. Clara is Carson High sophomore Karenza Tedford. The part of the Nutcracker is special guest Darion Sandoval, a dance student from Marysville, Calif., and the Sugarplum Fairy is played by Staci Dunlap, a choreographer and teacher at danceSpirit who has more than 20 years of dance experience.

The rest of the cast play the parts of lively party-goers, battling soldiers, tap-dancing mice, the brave and not-too-scary mouse queen and prince. Others play gifts such as the Gift of Sweets, with dancers from ages 2 to 10, the Gift of Dreams featuring fathers and daughters, and the Gift of Children with dancers from 6 to 12 years old.

The Gift of Coffee features a local father and daughter, Hayley Canfield and Skip Canfield, who perform an acrobatic dance, which is a feat of strength, flexibility and balance. The Gift of Chocolate is a solo number danced by Astrid Espinoza, with a Spanish theme. The Gift of Laughter is a Russian-styled dance to get the audience pumped up before the grand finale.

Show times for "The Nutcracker Ballet - All Jazz'd Up!" are 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

Tickets are $10, reserved seating, a substantial reduction in price from previous years to help more members of the community enjoy the show despite the current economic conditions.

"Every ticket is discounted," Tedford said.

Tickets are available by calling 884-1066 or at the door.