VALDOSTA — The perennial Christmas ballet favorite “The Nutcracker” returns to Valdosta for its 53rd annual production soon.

This year, the classic show will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 1 p.m. Dec. 7 in a children’s narrated version and 7 p.m., and Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. at the Valdosta Performing Arts Center.

Under the leadership of Dance Arts Artistic Director Allison Shenton, “The Nutcracker” has spectacular dancing, enchanting music and a timeless story of holiday adventure and excitement.

The ballet, set in the 1800s, tells the story of a young girl, Clara, who receives an exquisite nutcracker doll from her strange, mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer at the family’s lavish Christmas party. When Clara falls asleep by the doll, she wakes up at midnight to find that her doll, along with the house rats and toy soldiers, has ballooned in size and come to life.

Under an enormous Christmas tree, the Nutcracker Doll fights to save Clara from the Mouse Army. He succeeds, but not before suffering a near-fatal wound at the hands of the sinister Mouse King. Just when Clara has lost all hope, the Nutcracker comes back to life, not as a wooden doll, but as a dashing prince. He whisks Clara away through an ethereal, snow-laden forest to the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her subjects shower the Nutcracker Prince and Clara with gifts and entertainment.

Tickets for all shows start at $22 and all seats are reserved. Tickets are available online at www.danceartsvaldosta.com.  Any remaining tickets will be sold at the theater box office one hour prior to each performance.

For more information on The Nutcracker, call Dance Arts at (229) 563-6681.