How to prepare kids to see their first 'Nutcracker'

Many moments in "The Nutcracker" are potentially confusing and sometimes even upsetting to young children.

Peoria Ballet creates own costumes

PEORIA, Ill. | Each year during "The Nutcracker," dancers from the Peoria Ballet perform seemingly impossible feats on the tips of their toes to romantic music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Peoria Ballet creates own costumes

Heather McCarthy helps her 17-year-old daughter, Mary, with the final fitting of her costume during a recent rehearsal at the Peoria Ballet studio in Peoria, Ill. Mary is dancing the role of lead bonbon for the group's performance of "The Nutcracker." Mary made the costume for herself, and h…

Peoria Ballet creates own costumes

Dancers Catherine McCarthy, 15, left, and her sister, Mary McCarthy, 17, led a team of volunteers to make much-needed new costumes for the Peoria Ballet. On the rack at left are some of the 26 costumes they made for the snowflake scene in "The Nutcracker."

OFFBEAT: Kurt Jooss anti-war ballet 'The Green Table' presented for 80th anniversary by Chicago Joffrey

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

North suburban teen aims to dance globally

Arthur Stashak, 17, of Des Plaines, Ill., is seen April 9 at a dance studio in Arlington Heights, Ill. Stashak is a senior attending Canada's National Ballet School, one of the world's foremost training institutions. He accepted a full scholarship to attend the school after performing three …

Chicago-area teen aims to dance globally

DES PLAINES, Ill. | If life falls into place for Arthur Stashak, a year from now he'll be gazing out at one of Hamburg's historic canals, taking a quick breather between his pas de deux and variations classes.

Workers raise the rafters on proposed cultural arts center in C.P.

Nicole Schmied, development director for the Indiana Ballet Theatre, walks outside the former Lake County Nurses' Home on Friday in Crown Point. A new roof is being installed on the building, which is line to become a cultural arts center. The hope is to have a new roof in place by the end o…

Local youth learning ballet, tap at Pruzin Community Center

Julie Newman from the Indiana Ballet Theater leads Genasis Ortiz, 8, and Marley Anderson, 4, as they learn ballet and tap dancing Saturday at the Pruzin Community Center in Merrillville.

Local youth learning ballet, tap at Pruzin Community Center

Julie Newman from the Indiana Ballet Theater leads Genasis Ortiz, 8, and Marley Anderson, 4, in stretching exercises as they learn ballet and tap dancing Saturday at the Pruzin Community Center in Merrillville.

Local youth learning ballet, tap at Pruzin Community Center

Julie Newman from the Indiana Ballet Theater leads Genasis Ortiz, 8, and Marley Anderson, 4, as they learn ballet and tap dancing Saturday at the Pruzin Community Center in Merrillville.

Ballet auditions set for Swan Lake

MERRILLVILLE | Indiana Ballet Theatre will hold auditions Jan. 14 for two Star Plaza Theatre performances of "Swan Lake."

Sisters to share stage with Russian ballerinas in Moscow Ballet's 'Nutcracker'

When Michelle Hartman's sister told her about auditions for children to participate in the Chicago performance of the Moscow Ballet's "The Great Russian Nutcracker," she decided on a whim to drive the two hours that day to the audition.

Festive family

Hannah Hartman, 8, left, and her sister Lindsay Hartman, 9, will be performing with the Moscow Ballet in the Dec. 10 production of 'The Great Russian Nutcracker.'

Festive family

Lindsay Hartman, 9, rehearses at the Indiana Ballet Theatre in DeMotte. Lindsay and her sister Hannah Hartman, 8, will be performing with the Moscow Ballet in the Dec. 10 production of 'The Great Russian Nutcracker' at the Rosemont Theatre.

Sisters to share stage with Russian ballerinas in Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker"

Lindsay Hartman, 9, right, rehearses at the Indiana Ballet Theatre.

Festive family

Hannah Hartman, 8, rehearses at the Indiana Ballet Theatre in DeMotte. Hannah and her sister Lindsay Hartman, 9, will be performing with the Moscow Ballet in the Dec. 10 production of 'The Great Russian Nutcracker' at the Rosemont Theatre.

Sisters to share stage with Russian ballerinas in Moscow Ballet's 'Nutcracker'

When Michelle Hartman's sister told her about auditions for children to participate in the Chicago performance of the Moscow Ballet's "The Great Russian Nutcracker," she decided on a whim to drive the two hours that day to the audition.

Chesterton's Kennedy Brown, 12, wins a plum dancing role

Kennedy Brown has danced her way into the limelight at age 12, recently being chosen to perform a program normally done by professionals.

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DEMOTTE | Lindsay Hartman, 9, rehearses at the Indiana Ballet Theatre in DeMotte on Monday, November 28, 2011. Lindsay and her sister Hannah Hartman, 8, will be performing with the Moscow Ballet in the Dec. 10 production of "The Great Russian Nutcracker" at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, IL.