Columbia City Ballet's production of "Nutcracker" will be performed in Coastal Carolina University's Wheelwright Auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m., as part of Coastal's 2001-2002 Cultural Arts Series. Admission is $10 for adults and free for students under the age of 18.

"Nutcracker," a classic Christmas ballet with music by Tchaikovsky, is about a young girl named Clara whose wooden nutcracker doll comes to life and takes her on a magical journey. Their trip leads them to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets.

Led by Columbia City Ballet artistic director William Starrett, the cast of world-class dancers includes medallists and former members of the National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet. The cast of the production also features more than 80 young dancers from the community who auditioned for the performance.

Columbia City Ballet first presented "Nutcracker" in 1966. In 1999, more than 245 ballet companies and schools throughout the United States performed the holiday classic.

The performance is being funded, in part, by Santee Cooper and HTC.

For more information, contact the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.