Center for the Arts presents The Nutcracker

Holiday traditions find a special place in one's heart and those who consider seeing The Nutcracker a December pastime will have an opportunity to view it this weekend.

The University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts will perform its annual Nutcracker show, featuring many local dancers as well as professionals.

Show times are 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at UB's Center for the Arts, 103 Center For The Arts , North Campus. For tickets or information, visit www.ubcfa.org or call 688-4774.

Hundreds of Western New York dancers were selected for the production. Amherst residents Sarah Jane Taylor, the Arabian princess; Nora Cotter, featured in the Spanish scene; Matt Prado, the Nutcracker prince; Rich Ashworth, the Arabian prince and Stephanie Marrchese, the lead snake charmer, will be performing this weekend.

The show also features dancers from the New York City Ballet - soloists Daniel Ulbricht and Sterling Hyltin, and principal dancers Catherine Batcheller and Joseph Cipolla from the Royal Ballet in England.