Not the sugarplum fairy

In the coming weeks, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to indulge your ballet cravings with endless renditions of The Nutcracker. However, this Saturday is your only chance to see The White-Haired Girl, considered worldwide to be the masterwork of Chinese ballet. The ballet is based on the true story of a peasant girl who was kidnapped by her murderous landlord when her father couldn’t pay the rent. She escapes into the mountains, where lack of food and exposure to the elements turns her hair white, which leads local villagers to believe she’s a ghost. Eventually, she is discovered by the Chinese army and then … well, you’ll just have to see for yourself! The show, performed by the Shanghai Ballet, combines traditional folk dance, classical ballet, opera, martial arts and a compelling plot for one unforgettable evening. The curtains go up at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $26 to $36 for adults and $13 to $18 for children and students. The event is at Jackson Hall in the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. A pre-ballet lecture by Hanneke Lohse, ballet instructor at the Davis Art Center, begins at 7 p.m. at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center. Call (530) 752-1915 for more information.