Annamae Sterling, 17, is no stranger to ballet. She's danced nearly every role in 'The Nutcracker.' But taking on the lead role of Clara is special.

Every December, audiences around the world watch as dancers young and not-as-young perform the story of young Clara; who, at her family’s Christmas Eve party, opens an exquisite Nutcracker doll ...

During the celebration Herr Drosselmeyer presents his goddaughter Clara with a Nutcracker doll. When the party ends, Clara falls asleep with her Nutcracker. She awakens as mice scurry into the room.

Performances of “The Nutcracker” can be found almost any weekend in December in towns across America. Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score, “The Nutcracker” is about a girl named Clara who ...

Of course, he does -- his later mauling of Clara's nutcracker is the fateful moment that lodges the doll ever more firmly in her emotions. In Fritz's wild entrance, that moment is presaged in a ...

Maddie Jacobs, 14, is back for her second year as Clara — the girl whose nutcracker doll comes to life, and who gets whisked away on a magical journey. “My Clara lets her imagination get the ...

The party ends, everyone returns home and Clara falls asleep next to the tree. When the clock strikes midnight, Drosselmeyer returns to repair the Nutcracker, casting a magical spell on the doll.

But Clara doesn’t think only of herself. She feels an obligation to check on her nutcracker doll at midnight, when the more popular toys have been known to taunt the geeky ones.

First things first. The only things that even partially qualify me to critique the Syracuse Symphony / North Carolina Dance Theatre production of The Nutcracker are my almost forgotten high school ...

Molly Condon plays Clara and Jack Strelecky plays the Nutcracker Prince in SI Dance’s production of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 6 and 7 at CrossWalk Church in Norge.

The final three performances of NCD’s “The Nutcracker” at the Arkley take place this Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.; closing with a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday.

Annamae Sterling, 17, is no stranger to ballet. She's danced nearly every role in 'The Nutcracker.' But taking on the lead role of Clara is special.