For the past 15 years, the Westchester Ballet Company—one of America's oldest community ballet troupes—has performed the winter classic The Nutcracker at the Westchester County Center.

The production features professional guest soloists in the leading roles and professionally trained student dancers from communities throughout Westchester—including dancers from Hastings, Dobbs Ferry and Irvington.

"It's a lot of work, especially with school and our regular dance classes during the week," says Croton-on-Hudson's Julianna Marchant, 14, a high school student at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry. "But it's so much fun being backstage with your friends and then stepping out on stage together in front of a live audience."

Brazilians Marcella de Paiva Montes and Nayon Rangel Iovino, rising young stars from The Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C., will appear as the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier.

Westchester Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker is December 17 at 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm; December 18 at 2 pm. All performances are at the centrally located Westchester County Center, 198 Central Park Avenue, White Plains, which is also easily reached by public transportation. Tickets purchased in advance are $20; $14 children ages 2-10 and seniors. All tickets are $25 the day of the performance.

For tickets call 914-995-4050 or visit www.countycenter.biz. You can also purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Local students involved in the production are:

Dobbs Ferry

Aviv Markus (Group Mouse)

Irvington
Emily Krzemienski (Solo Mouse)
Kiara Olivencia (Solo Mouse)

Hastings
Lara Kennedy (Snow Corps, Chinese Demi-Solo, Flute Corps, Flower Corps)