Misha and Marie are thrilled that Christmas is coming. It's a frosty night, the neighbors are all invited, and Peter the stable boy is sweeping the barn in preparation for the dancing to come. But there's a disappointment in store. Instead of the beautiful doll she'd hoped for, the only thing strange old Uncle Nikolai has for Marie is a wooden nutcracker. Marie thinks it's a wonderful gift. Little does she know that it will lead her and her brother on the adventure of a lifetime.<br><br>When Misha and Marie finally go to bed on Christmas Eve, they sleep fitfully and are beset by nightmares. In one particularly bad dream, they join forces — unusual for the squabbling children — and conquer an army that might harm the nutcracker. Their reward is splendid: they are swept to the realm of the Snow Queen for a night of wonders.<br><br>James Kudelka, the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada, is one of North America's foremost dance artists. His vision of <i>The Nutcracker</i> is elegantly told by Karen Kain and beautifully rendered by artist Rajka Kupesic, herself a ballet dancer.