What began as a casual conversation, has become an Iowa State Center tradition.

While Iowa State Center’s executive director, Richard Snyder, was having dinner with Robert Thomas, the idea of doing a major ballet in Stephens Auditorium was raised. What resulted was the performance of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” This year marks the 20th anniversary of the show.

“It just started out as a dinner conversation and kind of formed into what we have today,” Iowa State Center advertising coordinator Sara Huber, said.

What it is today is the gradual evolution, from year to year, of one of the world’s most famous ballets. The improvements are funded by proceeds of the previous year’s performance. From these proceeds come new costumes and upgrades in the stage setting. While based on the original Nutcracker, some changes in the ballet have also been made.

“The choreography is a little different because it is adapted to the different age levels of the dancers,” Huber said.

The Nutcracker is the story of a little girl named Clara who receives a toy nutcracker from her grandfather. At night, when she goes to sleep, she dreams of a candyland world for her and her nutcracker. While in this magical land, they watch dances by the people of the candyland world. The story ends when one of Clara’s parents wake her up the next morning.

“What makes our performance so special is that we use local talent [and dancers] from Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Ames,” Huber said.

There will also be two principal dancers from the Boston Ballet.

“This is such a great holiday tradition,” Huber said. “It’s a great opportunity for [students] to attend this [show] on campus because not a lot of campuses provide the performing arts like we do at Stephens.”

The Nutcracker will come to stage Friday at 7:30 p.m. and this Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. An open house will be held in Stephens after Saturday’s show in honor of Snyder and Thomas for starting the Nutcracker tradition. An award will be presented to the two men at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $14, $13, and $12. Students, people 18 and under and senior citizens, as well as groups of ten or more, can receive a $2 discount on all tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the Iowa State Center and all Ticketmaster locations.