The very first "Nutcracker Ballet" was performed on Dec. 18, 1892 — a week before Christmas.
That pretty much sealed the deal for Tchaikovsky's now enormously popular work — originally choreographed by Frenchman Marius Petipa and Russian Lev Ivanov — to be forever associated with Christmas.
This weekend, the volunteer Civic Orchestra of Tucson teams up with Tucson-based Dancing in the Streets Arizona to perform the ballet. The volunteer orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Herschel Kreloff, will perform the piece at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.
Dancing in the Streets, which teaches high-risk youths to dance as a way to instill life skills and discipline, will present a cast of student dancers to dance the roles of the dolls, toy soldiers, mischievous mice, waltzing flowers and snowflakes.
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Tickets are $13 to $40 through Dancing in the Streets, ditsaz.tix.com
