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This weekend, kids won't need to be tucked into their beds to have visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in their heads.

The renowned Goh Ballet Academy is presenting its spin on the holiday classic The Nutcracker – and in addition to guest appearances by National Ballet principal dancers Sonia Rodriguez and Piotr Stanczyk and music by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the spirited production also features a live magician who performs tricks and illusions, nimble gymnasts and a drag queen who hams up the part of Mother Ginger.

"He acts it up in such a wonderful way," says Chan Hon Goh, director of the academy. "In fact, when we danced it in Victoria just recently, he had the entire audience clapping to the music the whole time."

The Nutcracker is not only a favourite part of the holiday season around the globe, it also launches the careers of thousands of dancers – including Ms. Goh, whose own career hit a new high when she got to dance the lead role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in a National Ballet production at the age of 19.

"Hopefully, the little mice will come back and be little soldiers next year, and then grow to be angels and then eventually be the snowflakes – and one day put on the tiara to be the Snow Queen," Ms. Goh said. "It's something that I want them to grow up with and look forward to doing this every year."



The Nutcracker runs Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening at the Centre. For tickets and information, go to gohballet.com or ticketmaster.ca.

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