Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King will be back in Vicksburg this holiday season, as student dancers stage two productions of the perennial Christmas favorite, the Nutcracker Ballet, while another holiday student dance program will include lots of seasonal singing.

Nutcracker Ballet

Dec. 7, 2 p.m. at Vicksburg High School, 3701 Drummond St., staged by Vicksburg Dance Studio. Admission is $9.

Dec. 20, 7 p.m. and Dec. 21, 2 p.m. at the Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave., staged by the Debra Franco School of Dance. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.

The first Nutcracker production will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Vicksburg High School, staged by dancers 4 and older from the Vicksburg Dance Studio.

Studio owner Valerie Atwood said this year’s production is a new staging, with some changes from previous years, and will feature Mattie Carlyle Derivaux as Clara, Amber McCraine as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Zack Carter as the Nutcracker.

Tickets are $9 at the door or at the Wisconsin Avenue studio.

The following Sunday, Dec. 13, students from the Theresa George School of Dance will sing and dance to a medley of holiday songs at the Parkside Playhouse on Iowa Boulevard.

Songs will include “We Need A Little Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Here Comes Santa Claus,” performed by students from George’s pre-school to teen dance classes. The format will be like an informal recital, George said.

Admission is free but donations will be accepted.

The second Nutcracker production will be staged Dec. 20 and 21 by the Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance. The performances will be at the Parkside Playhouse with tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Featured dancers will be Erin Fordice as Clara, Molleigh Wallace as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Stephen Hensley as the Nutcracker. The Playhouse’s Marie Cunningham is the coordinator of the party scene, Franco said.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com.