Many dance troupes will stage 'The Nutcracker' this holiday season

"The Nutcracker," Tchaikovsky's much-loved ballet always has been a popular holiday tradition.

This year is no different.

Suburban ballet schools and dance companies will stage the show beginning this weekend through December.

Here's a list of the best local spots to find Clara, the waltzing flowers and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Midwest Ballet Theatre:

The Midwest Ballet Theatre will perform "The Nutcracker" at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Nov. 17-18 at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove.

Guest artists include April Daly and Mauro Villanueva of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier Saturday and Sunday.

Anne Milewski and Isaac Stappas of the American Ballet Theatre in New York City will dance the same roles Nov. 17-18.

Jeffrey Diehl of the Louisville Ballet will portray Snow King and Arabian, and Greg Daniels of Hinsdale will take on the role of Herr Drosselmeyer in all four performances.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday cost $12, $11 for seniors 62 and older and students ages 12 to 18; $10 for children 11 and younger. Tickets for Nov. 17-18 cost $14 for adults, $13 for seniors and students and $12 for children.

Tickets may be purchased by mail: Midwest Ballet Theatre, P.O. Box 508, Downers Grove, IL 60515. For details, call (630) 971-9751 or visit www.midwestballet.org.

Chicago Festival Ballet:

Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet will present "The Nutcracker" on the following dates:

• 2 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet. Tickets cost $30 to $35 for adults, $19.50 for children ages 12 and younger. For tickets, visit www.rialtosquare.com or call (815) 726-6600.

• 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. Tickets cost $15 to $57. For tickets, visit www.harristheaterchicago.org or call (312) 334-7777.

• 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 22-23 at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The New Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kurt Muspratt, accompanies the performance. Tickets cost $23 to $33. For tickets, visit www.AtTheMAC.org or call (630) 942-4000.

Salt Creek Ballet:

The Salt Creek Ballet will present the following performances of "The Nutcracker." For details, visit www.saltcreekballet.org.

• 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 25 and 1 p.m. Nov. 26 at Hinsdale Central High School, 55th and Grant streets, Hinsdale. The Sugar Plum Party follows the Nov. 26 performance. Audience members will have a chance to meet the cast. For tickets, call (630) 769-1199.

• 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. For tickets, call (630) 896-6666.

• 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra will accompany the performance. For tickets, call (708) 235-2222.

Schaumburg:

The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble will present "The Nutcracker" on the following dates at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 7; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 8; 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 2 and 9. Tickets cost $18 to $25. For details, visit www.prairiecenter.org or call (847) 895-3600.

Youth Dance Ensemble:

The Barrington Youth Dance Ensemble will present "The Nutcracker" at 7 p.m. Nov. 30, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington.

Performances will include guest artists from the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, River North Dance Chicago and Ballet Gamonet. Tickets cost $25; $22 for children, students and seniors; $28 for preferred seating. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

For details, call (847) 382-6333 or visit www.byde.org.