Holidays en pointe

The Young Ballet, the USSR State Choreographic Company, which launched in 1966, was originally established by the USSR Ministry of Culture as an ambassador troupe whose members brought classical Russian ballet to stages throughout the Soviet Union and across the globe. Over the years, the company gained worldwide recognition for performances choreographed by the likes of Igor Moiseyev and Asaf Messerer, and it also morphed its style to reflect a more theatrical approach. In 1986, the company was renamed, but that theatrical spirit endured.

The troupe, which regularly performs at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, will wrap up its final North American tour of the year with a performance of The Nutcracker at Three Stages at Folsom Lake College. From December 27 to December 30, Pyotr Tchaikovsky's timeless Christmas story will be interpreted by a critically acclaimed group of young dancers who, while bringing some modern touches to Clara and her dreamlike wooden toys, nonetheless remain faithful to the classic ballet's charmingly old-fashioned traditions. Thursday, December 27, at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 29, at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 30, at 2 p.m.; tickets are $29-$65. Three Stages at Folsom Lake College, 10 College Parkway in Folsom; (916) 608-6888; www.threestages.net.