Carson City performances of ‘The Peanutcracker’ planned

“The Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell,” billed as a kid-sized version of the classic holiday ballet, is coming to Carson City.

The production is a shorter, narrated version of the “The Nutcracker” designed for families with young children.

Presented by the Sierra Nevada Ballet, “Peanutcracker: The Story in Nutshell” will play for local schools at 10 a.m. and noon on Friday.

The general public can attend at 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday. All performances will be at the Carson City Community Center, 850 E William St.

Through the generosity of many sponsors, Sierra Nevada Ballet invited thousands of at-risk children to attend the performances for free and many others to attend at the reduced rate of $5.

Based on Lev Ivanov‘s original ballet, “The Peanutcracker” is a 45-minute narrated version that’s “specifically designed for families with younger children to introduce them to the wonderful world of ballet,” noted Rosine Bena, artistic director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet. Bena wrote and choreographed this traditional holiday show.

Bena was first inspired to create the production by young audience members. After 25 years of performing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy professionally, Bena found through speaking with young fans “The Nutcracker” was often children’s first introduction to ballet and often young children found the two-hour ballet too long and difficult to follow. Bena produced her first mini version with narration in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1993. She continued to present this to audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area annually through December 2000 until she moved to Nevada and started the professional ballet company, Sierra Nevada Ballet.

Bay Area principal dancers Terrin Kelly and Luke Lazzaroto and the Sierra Nevada Ballet professional company of dancers perform this piece along with more than 50 local children.

Tickets are available at SierraNevadaBallet.org or by calling the ballet company at 775-360-8663.

Individuals or businesses who want to sponsor free tickets for the Carson City or Reno performances for schools are asked to call the ballet company.

For information, go to SierraNevadaBallet.org.