Again this season, productions abound in our area. A few are professional visions with big-time performers. Others are local mountings with visiting guest artists. Just don't underestimate the joys of a simple neighborhood showcase filled with sweet little ones romping around the stage dressed like mice and funny soldiers.

Here are some of the select stagings of "The Nutcracker" convenient to local families. Tickets range from $5 to $50-plus, so no one should have to go without a helping of Tchaikovsky and toe shoes this holiday.

Baltimore's corps beliefs

Russia's dominance of the classical arts becomes apparent this time of year. After all, it was in St. Petersburg that the first "Nutcracker" was performed to the 1892 symphony by Russian master Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The Moscow Ballet performs its 2009 "Great Russian Nutcracker" to a full, live orchestra in all its shows at Baltimore's Lyric Opera House on Dec. 19 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 1 and 5 p.m. As a special treat for serious balletomanes, prima ballerina Cristina Terentieva and her partner Alexei Terentieva will dance the grand pas de deux. Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster or charge by phone 800-551-7328.

A more American approach to the same fantasy is taken by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, returning to the Hippodrome Theatre this weekend, Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. The ballet is set in Baltimore at the turn of the 20th century, and its characters take their names from some of the city's famous families, including Hopkins, Calvert and Lord and Lady Baltimore.

This season, the Pittsburgh company is debuting eight new characters in the second act, including four butterflies, a dragonfly and three birds in the carousel scene. Children from Towson University's children's dance program are sure to add merriment to those colorful party scenes. Tickets range from $20 to $79 and are available at the Hippodrome Theatre box office, at Charge-by-Phone (410-547-SEAT) or by going to www.ticketmaser.com.

For the past few years, the Baltimore Ballet School has presented a beautiful, professional version of "The Nutcracker" choreographed by artistic director Cem Catbas with special musical touches to the Tchaikovsky score by his wife, Elisabeth Catbas. "Nutcracker 2009" promises to be even lovelier with guest artists Michele Wiles and Katherine Williams of American Ballet Theater. Vesting artists Ty Gurfein and Enton Hoxha add to the excitement.

The “Nutcracker Ballet” by Anna Apicella School of Dance, will be performed noon, Sat., Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, at Lorenzo’s Dinner Theatre, 9603 Deereco Road, Timonium. Proceeds benefit the Serena Lambert Fund and the Johns Hopkins Children’s Fund. Tickets $17.50 children and students; and $35, $40, $45 and $50 for others. Call 443-570-1664.

The Baltimore Ballet dancers and students perform "The Nutcracker" at Goucher's Kraushaar Auditorium Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. Tickets in advance are $30 for adults, $15 for children. Call 410-667-7974 or go to www.baltimoreballet.org.

In nearby Owings Mills, "The Nutcracker Suite" will be performed by the Baltimore County Youth Ballet at the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts (410-356-7469) Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 and Sunday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for this family-oriented show.

Meanwhile, you can catch the full production of "The Nutcracker" at the school's Shaefer Ballroom (443-263-2460) weekends, Dec. 4-17. This is the traditional local staging I usually recommend to families. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $6 for students. Go to www.bsfa.org for more information.

Hits close to home

Each fall, the Howard County Ballet auditions local dancers for its annual "Nutcracker," this time around at the Centennial High School Auditorium, Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20, at 3 p.m. Look for Leland Charles, a senior at Oakland Mills High School, to emerge as one of the dynamite star dancers here.

Ashlei-Rene Yancich, another star-in-the-making, will perform the Arabian routine and animate the Mouse Queen. Live music, courtesy of the Howard County Orchestra, will be under the direction of David Zajic. Tickets are $18 general, $12 for students and senior citizens. Call 410-465-9414 for more information.

With so many traditional productions around, you might think that setting your company apart from the crowd would be one tough 'Nut' to crack. Leave it to Priscilla Kaufhold and the wonderfully talented Kinetics Dance Theatre to come up with a different take. Her company's senior and student troupes will present "The Cracked Nut," at the Howard County Center for the Arts this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6, at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Expect the unexpected from this gang - a bit of ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop, a sprinkling of swing, a splash of synchronized swimming and a big heap of humor. All tickets, by the way, are just $5.

The Arabesque Dance Company in Columbia dances a version of "The Nutcracker" especially adapted with the younger child's attention span in mind. Columbia's first dance teacher and Arabesque's founding director, Marcia Lachman, cites the importance of the holiday ballet for young ones, calling it "part of a magic that stays with them all their lives."

Sweet sugarplums here will include Kayla Hamilton, Rachel Morgan and Sarah Livingston. Sharing that coveted role of Clara, the little girl whose dreams conjure up a nutcracker prince, will be Emily Ames, Ellis Champion and Katie O'Connell .

Arabesque's "Nutcracker," directed by Maureen Wheeler, will be performed at The Jim Rouse Theatre Saturday, Dec. 19, at 1 and 3:15 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. To reserve tickets, call 410-381-0017.

This year I'm taking my 4-year-old granddaughter to a performance of the Central Maryland Youth Ballet's "Petite Nutcracker" at Slayton House in the Village of Wilde Lake, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12-13. This community charmer was staged by professional dancers Kimmary William and Jacob Rice, who have expanded the production with dancers from their two Columbia studios. For ticket information, call 410-730-3987 or go to www.centralmarylandyouthballet.com.

Each holiday season, the Columbia Figure Skating Club performs a new adaptation of "The Nutcracker" as an ice ballet that enchants even the squirmiest tiny tots. "The Nutcracker on Ice" is, in fact, the only ice skating show of its kind in the Baltimore-Washington area. This production features more than 100 performers, little ones and adults, including dozens of high-level skaters.

Shows will take place at the Columbia Ice Rink Saturday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the rink or from club members, but plan ahead. All four shows sold out quickly last year. For more details, call 410-730-0321. And if you go, don't forget to bring lap blankets.

For those who prefer their holiday ballet not wrapped in red and green, don't miss this weekend's performance of "The Masquerade," a fascinating theatrical ballet performed by L'Etoile, the Russian Ballet Academy of Maryland. It happens at Slayton House this Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. This original production by Svetlana Kravtsova and Vadim Pijicov features young, talented dancers from the studio and beyond. Tickets are $15 general, with discounts for senior citizens, students and little ones. Seating is limited, so call 443-393-1197 to reserve tickets.

And these capital cavaliers

Artistic director Dianna Cuatto has put a new spin on Ballet Theatre of Maryland's rendition of "The Nutcracker" in its Annapolis home at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Dec. 12-20. The "Mystery Nutcracker" will be presented in partnership with the Chesapeake Symphony Youth Orchestra. Consider treating your family to one of the troupe's popular Sugarplum Fairy parties. Call 410-263-2909.

The Harford Ballet Company consistently puts on a fine "Nutcracker" with guest artists and strong teen-age dancers from the area. It performs "The Nutcracker" at Aberdeen High School Saturday, Dec. 19, at 1 and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $17 to $23 in advance, $25 at the door. Call 410-877-0777.

There are lots of dates to see Olney Ballet Theatre in "The Nutcracker," with original choreography by the late Mary Day, founder of the Washington Ballet. All shows are in the comfortable interior at the Olney Theatre Center (301-924-3400), Dec. 11-26. Take the kids and have tea with the Sugarplum Princess. For details, go to www.olneytheatre.org.

The Washington Ballet's vintage take on "The Nutcracker" transports audiences back through time to historic Washington, and an "A-list" party on the Potomac. George Washington appears as the heroic Nutcracker, with King George III cast as the villainous Rat ruler.

The company will also host a variety of special events surrounding the ballet, including the annual Nutcracker Tea Party at the Willard Hotel on Sunday, Dec. 13. For ticket information and show times, call, 202-889-8150 or go to www.washingtonballet.org.