The Blume School of Dance presents The Nutcracker Ballet on Dec. 9 and 10, at the Crown

Coliseum. The Nutcracker Ballet is an adaptation of “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. The choreographed story is based on a revision by Alexander Dumas.

The concise story follows as Clara receives a Nutcracker on Christmas Eve. She falls asleep holding the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker becomes alive and is attacked by the Mouse King and mice.

The Mouse King and the mice overwhelm the Nutcracker. She rescues him from the Mouse King. The mice take the defeated Mouse king away. The Nutcracker becomes a Prince. Clara and the Prince travel to the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets.

The Sugar Plum Fairy rewards Clara for vanquishing the Mouse King. Clara experiences a series of celebrations in the form of dances. The finale sees the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a pas de deux. Clara awakens from the dream, holding the Nutcracker.

“This is the fifty-fourth year of producing the nostalgic ballet classic, The Nutcracker,” said Dina Lewis, studio director, Blume School of Dance. “It is always with much excitement and joy when the month of December comes around and the department stores are filled with music from the famous Nutcracker Ballet. Being able to direct the production and see the way the young people mesmerize the crowd is always fulfilling. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a young performer who has worked on the choreography since April come off the stage all smiles.

"Being able to impact the families who attend with a lifelong hopeful memory of the Nutcracker keeps me overjoyed and feeling quite accomplished. Hopefully, I will be around to see it through for quite a few more years.”

Jennifer Shean, parent of Kaelyn Shean shares thoughts about her daughter’s participation in the upcoming performance of The Nutcracker.

“My daughter, Kaelyn Shean, one of the performers with the North Carolina Ballet through Blume School of Dance will be performing as a Soldier in Act I, and a Doll in the Mother Ginger Scene in Act ll.”

“I enjoy The Nutcracker because it is an enchanting Christmas story. Clara overcomes her fear of the Mouse King to save a loved one, her Nutcracker. You feel like you are really on a journey with Clara to the Land of Sweets,” said Kaelyn Shean. “I enjoy dancing in this one because it is the actual choreography and music from the original Nutcracker. It is the closest you can get to dancing the real thing. The Nutcracker symbolizes Christmas. The Nutcracker takes place on Christmas Eve, then the toys came to life. It is basically about the magic of Christmas and believing in things that seem impossible.”

The Blume School of Dance and North Carolina State Ballet are the jewels of Fayetteville’s quality of life organizations.

“This Ballet, The Nutcracker, brings families together to watch and has become peoples’ Christmas tradition. It is a good ballet and people want to keep coming to see it,” said Jennifer Shean.

Experience the magic of The Nutcracker Ballet by the Blume School of Dance, on December 9 and 10, at 3 p.m. The performances will be held at the Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville. The ticket prices are $13.50 for children, $27.50 for military, and $33.50 for adults.

Tickets and The Nutcracker Ballet information is available at Nutcracker, Crown Complex, https://www.crowncomplexnc.com and Blume School of Dance at 910-484-3466.