Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker has become an integral part of the Christmas season all around the globe. Each year, the magic of the dancing—delicate beauty, powerful athleticism, whimsical charm—combines with the classic strains of Tchaikovsky's music to beckon young and old alike to the theater for an evening of adventure, mystery, and sugar plum dreams. This year, in its annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet, Grants Pass' own Stillpoint Dance Studio and the creative team of Penny King, Sylvia Bolton, Jocelyn Vodovoz-Schmidt, and Erica Bury bring us an exciting new vision that includes fresh choreography alongside familiar scenes, new characters joining old favorites, and a strength of storytelling that will transport audiences to a world of grand parties, thrilling battles, and wonder-filled fantasies.