Atwater school presents a classic

The Mouse King, Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara and many more characters are set to make their annual appearance in “The Nutcracker” on the Buhach Colony High School theater stage in Atwater.

The Merced Academy of Dance will perform the classic, featuring dancing gingerbread men, candy canes and sugarplum fairies, in three shows this weekend at the school, 1800 Buhach Road.

Friday’s (Dec. 4) showing is at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, also offers a 7 p.m. performance and Sunday’s (Dec. 6) matinee is set for 2 p.m.

Tickets, available at the door, are $15 for children and seniors and $18 for adults. They’re also available at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St.

The mostly high school- and college-age dancers will be leaping and pirouetting across the stage in mouse and soldier costumes, as well as many tutus.

Buhach students on Thursday got a taste, but the remaining shows of the Christmastime favorite are open to anyone.

“The Nutcracker” is a ballet scored with famous Christmas music by legendary Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It tells the story of a girl who may or may not be dreaming when a nutcracker transforms into a man.

Before taking the girl to the “Land of Sweets,” the Nutcracker/Man must battle the Mouse King, who has led an onslaught against gingerbread soldiers.

For more information, email academy Assistant Director Jennifer Hobbs at mercedacademyofdance@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Atwater school presents a classic."