Cocktail Party Fact: This piece, performed each December, is the financial backbone of almost every ballet company. For some people, it’s the only dance they see all year.

Here’s the plot: On Christmas Eve, Clara’s Uncle Drosselmeyer gives her a Nutcracker. That night she dreams the Nutcracker defends her against an army of mice. She throws her shoe at the Mouse King, distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to kill him. The Nutcracker then turns into a Prince and takes Clara off to his Kingdom of Sweets, where the second act takes place. Clara and the Prince watch a string of dances, including those from Arabia, China, and Spain. The act plays out like most little girl’s dreams — full of fairies, flowers, and sweet things. She awakens Christmas morning, treasuring the gift from her Uncle more than ever.

Memorable Moments: The Waltz of the Snowflakes, the Waltz of the Flowers, and the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. To the young and aspiring dancer, each moment will be remembered long after the last curtain call.

Vital Statistics: Lee Ivanov choreographed the two-act ballet and the music was composed by Tchaikovsky. It premiered December 18, 1892 at the Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Why See It?: Like tinsel and mistletoe, The Nutcracker should be a holiday tradition.