Ring in the holiday season with the timeless family tradition of attending a live performance of “The Nutcracker” performed by Ballet Arizona.

Choreographed by Artistic Director Ib Andersen, “The Nutcracker” will run from Friday, Dec. 8 through Sunday, Dec. 24 at Symphony Hall, 75 N. 2nd St., in downtown Phoenix.

Ballet Arizona added an additional performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 for a total of 16 performances due to demand. Shows will take place in the afternoon and evening. All performances are accompanied by live music from The Phoenix Symphony.

In 2013 “The New York Times” senior dance critic Alastair Macaulay hailed Andersen’s “The Nutcracker” as “one of the three finest productions” of the nearly 20 versions he attended around the country. Ballet Arizona created the production in 2006 at a cost of $1.8 million.

In honor of the 19th century tradition, “The Nutcracker” tells a mystical and enchanting tale of a young girl, Clara, who receives a wooden nutcracker on Christmas Eve. Through the magic of the season, Clara finds herself in a battle between the Nutcracker Prince and a frightful Mouse King. Along with the Nutcracker Prince, Clara embarks on a journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets to meet the magical Snow Queen and her snowflake dancers.

“‘The Nutcracker’ is one of my personal favorites that we get the honor of presenting each December for the Arizona community,” Andersen shared in a press release.

Tickets available now by calling the Ballet Arizona box office at 602-381-1096.

Visit https://balletaz.org/performance/the-nutcracker-2023/.

A total of 16 performances will be staged at Symphony Hall through Christmas Eve.

(Photo by Rosalie O'Connor, provided by Evolve PR and Marketing)