For dance lovers looking to get into the holiday spirit, The Nutcracker is a must at this time of year. Thankfully, the Washington D.C. area has numerous performances of the beloved ballet from which to choose. While there’s over a dozen performances ranging in size from huge ballet troupes to small dance studios, here's a few that stand out among the rest. American Ballet Theater: Few companies can compete with the size and talents of......

December begins tomorrow, and that means only one thing: it's time to take that special person in your life to a holiday concert. Do you want to subject him or her to the same old carols, something historical, or something really weird? Here is a list of your options, not including the many performances of Handel's Messiah or The Nutcracker, to be previewed tomorrow. THE BEST OF THE BEST: >> For those who never want......

When the posters for the Washington Ballet's production of The Nutcracker hit the streets, accented with cartoon caricatures of George Washington, it was hard not to be skeptical. Would the Capitol dome become a prominent set piece? Would little children running around be designed to symbolize Congress? The possibilities were endless. But the skepticism is unwarranted: Choreographer Septime Webre's production, featuring everything from 19th century carousels to 20th century cherry blossoms, is wonderfully done -......

FRIDAY: >> After a superb D.C. debut last year in the back room, Pleaseeasaur is returning to theBlack Cat tonight, this time on the mainstage, opening for San Diego's Pinback. J.P. Hasson and his invisible sidekick Thomas Hurley III are apparently taking a break this month from recording a new Comedy Central-sponsored album to perform a number of valuable pubilc service announcements. Did you know, for example, that "Cobras are Totally Cool?" Or, for that......

The labor dispute at Washington Ballet DCist told you about earlier this week has led the company to cancel all of its remaining performances of The Nutcracker, which opened Dec. 2, the Post is reporting. The move could potentially jeopardize the rest of the company's season, as The Nutcracker provides the majority of revenue that funds the rest of Washington Ballet's performances throughout the year. All remaining tickets will be refunded, and instructions on how......

A disappointed reader tipped us off that The Washington Ballet has announced that tonight's performance of The Nutcracker has been cancelled due to what the company is calling a dancer strike. The Washington Ballet released the following statement: Despite the utmost efforts of The Washington Ballet to satisfy the concerns of the dancers of The Washington Ballet - including agreeing to sign an Interim Agreement to enable the parties to continue bargaining without interruption -......