Performances spread magic across metro Atlanta

The Atlanta Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” is the metro area’s biggest and most lavish production of the magical holiday show, but it’s far from the only one. Some have already come and gone this season, but these other home-grown “Nutcrackers” will be on pointe in December.

Ballethnic Dance Co.

“Urban Nutcracker” hasbeen an Atlan tat radition since it debuted at the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel in 1992. The brainchild of Ballethnic Dance Co. co-founders Nena Gilreath and Waverly T. Lucas II, the production transplants the story from 19th-century Europe to Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood in the 1940s.

Coached by Lydia Abarca-Mitchell, principal performers include Karla Tyson as “Brown Sugar” (the Sugar Plum Fairy character), Waverly Lucas as the party host, Sheila Spivey as the narrator Big Mama and young dancer sfromt he Ballethnic Academy of Dance as the protagonist, Sarah. The cast draws on Ballethnic’s professional dance ensemble, youth dancers and seni oradul ts from the company’s adult classes.

In addition, Ballethnic will also present the show’s

contin uedon

second half under the name “Urban Nutcracker: Wonderland” in a staging aimed at families with younger children. ballethnic.org.

Atlanta Dance Theatre

For its 37th season, this company based in Johns Creek presents “The Nutcracker” at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.

CONTRIBUTED BY KRIS ROBERTS “Urban Nutcracker” will be performed Dec. 20-23 at Tri-Cities High School in East Point.