The Nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. Posted on 12 April 2017. Registration Open for Fall Semester at Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts. By Maeve Ashby. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in December 1892. It’s an odd little story, The Nutcracker ballet. The Nutcracker, ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. HICKORY — Registration for the 2018-2019 season at Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts is now open. Beloved ballets How “The Nutcracker” danced all over the world. This winter, banish the dark skies and enjoy a visual feast as we take you and your family on a fantastical adventure. The constant reinvention of a Christmas classic. With choreography by Scottish Ballet founder Peter Darrell, and live music played by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, this ever-popular ballet is the perfect Christmas treat. This year, all students in the ballet program will also participate in performances of the beloved Nutcracker ballet, December 14-16, at The Old Post Office Playhouse in Newton. If you're off to see Graeme Murphy's moving reimagaination of The Nutcracker, now's the time to get acquainted with the story, which follows a ballerina, Clara, through the glamour and romance, tragedy and travels of her life. On Christmas Eve, Clara is given the gift of a wooden man who comes to life after midnight to lead her into a strange land.