Photo by Jimmy de Dancers Haley Armstrong and Nathan Cottam

The delicate grace of ballet dancers fluttering across the stage will charm audience members young and old as the Templeton Performing Arts Center presents the 12 annual rendition of “The Nutcracker,” which runs Friday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 6 and Friday, Dec. 11 to Sunday, Dec. 13.

The dazzling display, which is produced by the North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation, will feature skilled dancers from the Paso Robles Class Act Dance Studio, Paso Robles Chamber Ballet as well as local and guest dancers.

Additionally, more than 150 local businesses and 100 volunteers have donated their time and money to the production, which has become a community holiday tradition.

Sets, costumes, theaterrental, choreography, guest artists and lighting all contribute to the ballet’s annual cost of about $40,000, “The Nutcracker” publicity chairperson Dana Weygandt said.

According to Weygandt, planning for the production began over the summer and auditions took place over the first week of September, drawing dancers from Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero San Luis Obispo and San Francisco.

“There are always little changes and the choreography always changes. Some dances we keep the same and some are different, like the Snow Dance, which is completely new,” she said. Weygandt, who will perform a supporting role in the production as she has for the past two years, said the dancers will show many levels of experience.

Jesus Solorio, who some may know from the third season of the Fox hit series “So You Think You Can Dance,” will reprise his role as the nutcracker prince during this year’s ballet performance.

According to Weygandt, the local celebrity grew up in the Paso Robles area, danced at Class Act Dance Studio and took park in the Oak Park Recreation program. Supporting dancers range from 7 years old to over 50, which give the cast a dose of personality and color.

“We have some parents that are in the family scenes who have never danced, but have gotten involved because they have children in the production,” Weygandt said. “It is just one example of how it takes a whole community to put on a ballet.”

Nutcracker Director Cheryle Armstrong said the dancers, who practice at least 15 to 20 hours per week, function like a family, sharing everything from dance techniques to colds. “It is important to keep kids focused on something that will be positive and will make them feel good about themselves,” she said.

According to the director, guest dancer and choreographer Nathan Cottam, who has danced with the Ballet Theatre Company in Boston and studied at the famed American Ballet Theater, has pushed the cast to leap above and beyond their own expectations.

“I feel [Nathan] brings the production to a higher level and it exposes our dancers to what it really is like to execute the techniques at a higher level,” she said.

As for the production itself, Armstrong said “The Nutcracker” has remained a Paso Robles holiday classic for many reasons.

“I think people actually look for something that will make them feel more connected as a family and Christmas time is that time of the year,” she said. “Coming to see ‘The Nutcracker’ is one of those traditions. [“The Nutcracker”] has continued to be a tradition like getting a family Christmas tree every year.”

“The Nutcracker” runs through Dec. 13 and a dress rehearsal open exclusively to students and children will take place Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

During the open rehearsal, students will be admitted with the donation of a canned food item to be provided to a local food bank and one paying adult chaperone must be present for every six children.

In addition, a Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Templeton High School for anyone who wishes to meet with the cast and take photos.

Future ballerinas are encouraged to dress in their favorite party dresses and tiaras.

Tickets for the tea party are $25 for adults and $10 for children. A drawing will take place and the winner will have the chance to go on stage during that day’s ballet performance.

Tickets for “The Nutcracker” ballet performances are $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12 or seniors over 60.

Group discounts are available.

For a complete performance schedule visit www.clas

sactdance.com/nutcracker or call 1-800-838-3006.

For additional information, contact Class Act Dance Studio at 239-3668.