It is many things: functional art, a beloved symbol of Christmas and finally, the title of the Lakeville City Ballet's next production.

"The Nutcracker" is perhaps one of the most familiar suites of holiday music, and has been performed by the Lakeville City Ballet for the past 11 years. This year's performances will be at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26. All performances will be at Lakeville South High School Theater.

Peter Tchaikovsky wrote the music for "The Nutcracker" in 1891. The ballet was first performed a year later, in 1892, in Russia. It was based on the book "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," which was written by E.T.A. Hoffman and later revised by the French writer Alexander Dumas, the man who wrote "The Three Musketeers."

It takes a cast of 120 to bring Tchaikovsky's vision to life. Leading the cast is Denise Vogt, the Lakeville City Ballet's artistic director. Vogt is one of the nonprofit organization's founding members, along with her husband, Frederick, and Ann Proudfoot, who is the owner of Dance Works in Lakeville.

"It's a traditional rendition - it's cute, it's pretty, it's very professional," Vogt said. "It's on the same caliber of something you'd see downtown. It's not a high school production."

Vogt came to the United States from London, England, 15 years ago. After finding that Dance Works had no Christmas programs, she started one.

"The Nutcracker" was a natural choice.

"It's great, because there are so many different pieces of music that you can do different things to," Vogt said. "The kids loved it, and I loved it, and it just went on from there, and years later, it's an established 'Nutcracker.'"

Vogt said the ballet hadn't done any other show besides "The Nutcracker" because the year-after-year use of the same props allowed children to work with professionals.

"This production is about $25,000 to put on," Vogt said. "That's hiring professionals, renting backdrops, paying the school - everything. It's huge. To put on a brand new production of a different ballet would be $50,000. We don't have it - and it's not going to happen."

One advantage with "The Nutcracker" is the familiarity that comes along with doing it year after year. For example, the girl who plays Clara, a lead role, started out as an angel.

Emily Delay, 13, of Lakeville has also played a mouse and a soldier. This is the eighth time that she's been in "The Nutcracker."

"I play Clara, and I'm Fritz's older sister," Emily said. "I love to perform on stage. It's fun, and I never want to quit."

Sara Chow, 11, of Apple Valley is another dancer who has given "The Nutcracker" another go. This time, she plays the character Mother Ginger.

"I can dance, and I really like to do that," Sara said. "I like to do rehearsals and dance in front of the crowd."

The performance, of course, is the end of a long road of practice. Vogt explained how it worked.

It's like a painting - in the end, you've finally got something," she said. "But ballet isn't on a canvas - it is there for one night, and then it's gone. It's feels like magic."

Tickets for "The Nutcracker" are $15 per person, and can be purchased in a variety of ways. They can be found at both Danceworks locations in Lakeville. The locations are at 20137 Icenic Trail and at 17504 Dodd Blvd. They may also be purchased at Lakeville Walgreens and at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Tickets can also be found online at www.lakevillecityballet.org.

Information: 952-469-3336.

"I play Clara, and I'm Fritz's older sister," Emily said. "I love to perform on stage. It's fun, and I never want to quit."

Sara Chow, 11, of Apple Valley is another dancer who has given "The Nutcracker" another go. This time, she plays the character Mother Ginger.

"I can dance, and I really like to do that," Sara said. "I like to do rehearsals and dance in front of the crowd."

The performance, of course, is the end of a long road of practice. Vogt explained how it worked.

It's like a painting - in the end, you've finally got something," she said. "But ballet isn't on a canvas - it is there for one night, and then it's gone. It's feels like magic."

Tickets for "The Nutcracker" are $15 per person, and can be purchased in a variety of ways. They can be found at both Danceworks locations in Lakeville. The locations are at 20137 Icenic Trail and at 17504 Dodd Blvd. They may also be purchased at Lakeville Walgreens and at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Tickets can also be found online at www.lakevillecityballet.org.

Information: 952-469-3336.