Iowa State’s annual showings of “The Nutcracker Ballet” continues this year at Stephens Auditorium. Performances will be held at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Since 1981, “The Nutcracker Ballet” has graced the stage of Stephens Auditorium with its beautiful display of dancers. There will be more than 200 local dancers from Ames and surrounding Iowa communities that will be performing alongside a few guest principal dancers.

Iowa State will welcome dancers from Robert Thomas Dance Center in Ames to Stephens. Robert Thomas and Miyoko Kato Thomas accept dancers of all ages to their studio. “The Nutcracker Ballet” continues to be their big end-of-the-year project that everyone can enjoy.

“The Nutcracker Ballet” is a two-act show, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. This show tells a story set in 19th century Germany. Clara, alongside her Nutcracker that she receives for Christmas, travels to an amazing fantasy land and go on a journey where they witness beautiful dancers perform to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Music in this ballet ranges from Irish jigs and Spanish melodies, to the delicate notes of The Sugar Plum Fairy. “The Nutcracker Ballet” is a revered, beautiful display of dancers and music that has delighted audiences of all ages for over a century.

If you want more out of “The Nutcracker Ballet” experience, tickets are available to have tea with Clara and the Nutcracker themselves at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Along with tea, you’ll also have the chance to make some fun holiday crafts and get your picture with the dancers. Tickets for tea with Clara and the Nutcracker can be bought for $7 on the Iowa State Center’s website

Tickets for the ballet start at $25 and can be bought through Ticketmaster or The Iowa State Center Ticket Office in Stephens Auditorium.