'NUTCRACKER' HAS LEAPT TO TOP OF U.S. HOLIDAY TRADITIONS.

Byline: Vicki Smith Paluch Correspondent

For more than a century, ``The Nutcracker'' ballet has delighted families each holiday season throughout the world, but in the United States, ``The Nutcracker'' has grown into a national tradition, according to dance scholar Jennifer Fisher.

We watch our children, our grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends - as well as ballet stars - dance in the world's most popular ballet at our local auditoriums and major theaters.

``The Nutcracker'' is also the ballet that keeps selling tickets and keeps local, regional and national ballet companies financially afloat. In Los Angeles County, local ballet academies and their dance companies will soon be presenting their versions of this holiday tale about a little girl, her mysterious (and magical) godfather, the special gift he gives her, a battle between mice and toy soldiers, a sweet journey to Candyland and love. Though loosely based on a German story by E.T.A. Hoffmann (``The Nutcracker and the Mouse King'') and set to music by Tchaikovsky, the ballet's popularity is truly an American phenomenon in which communities come together to celebrate the winter holiday season.

In her new book, ``Nutcracker Nation: How an Old World Ballet Became a Christmas Tradition in the New World'' (Yale University Press; $27 ), Fisher offers new insights into the ``Nutcracker'' phenomenon. ``The dance world underestimates 'The Nutcracker,' '' said Fisher, a dance lecturer at Pomona College who calls herself the world's first ``Nutcracker-ologist.''

In her book, she traces ``The Nutcracker's'' history from its St. Petersburg, Russia, premiere in 1892 through its emigration to America in 1940. Most important, Fisher suggests that ``The Nutcracker'' has become an American tradition, and a rite of passage for young dancers.

``Year after year, I can see it. It is high art, a children's ballet and a tough ballet to perform,'' she said. ``All of those fluffy snowflakes will have the chance, one day, to become Clara or the Sugar Plum Fairy.''

This holiday season, Natasha Middleton, the artistic director of the Media City Ballet in Burbank, is mounting her company's first full-length ``Nutcracker,'' Dec. 14 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale and Dec. 19-21 at California State University, Northridge.

In doing so, she is carrying on her own family tradition, one that dates back to her grandmother Elena Wortova, a soloist in Serge Diaghilev's original Ballets Russes, and to her father, Andrei Tremaine, who was a principal dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

Tremaine was a master teacher in Los Angeles and had his own dance companies - the Santa Monica Civic Ballet and later the Pacific Ballet Theatre. He is making sure his daughter keeps with the Ballet Russe tradition.

``The first act - the party scene, the battle - has to have a spark to it,'' Tremaine said. ``If you don't have that flavor, it can be dull. 'The Nutcracker' is not about just any Christmas party. This is about magic and mystery. The children have to be part of polite society and be very mischievous.''

Middleton, who grew up in her father's ballet studio in North Hollywood, danced her way up in ``The Nutcracker.'' She eventually joined Joffrey II, but her ballet performing career ended suddenly when a car crash left her paralyzed on one side. She was 22.

``My father always told me muscles have memories,'' she said. ``My muscles came back, but not enough for point work. I did musical theater, taught ballet at my father's studio and became a choreographer.''

She started Media City Ballet three years ago, when she decided to move the dance studio from her father's former North Hollywood location to Burbank. At 34, Middleton is intent on continuing her family's ``Nutcracker'' tradition.

``They're keeping the spirit. That's what I'm most interested in,'' said Tremaine.

Upcoming 'Nutcrackers'

OPENING TODAY:

Ballet of the Foothills at Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. 8 tonight, 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday. $20 to $25. [phone].

Pasadena Dance Theatre at San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, 320 S. Mission Drive, Pasadena. 2:30 p.m. today, Sunday, Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13. $35, $28, $22 for seniors, $12 for students and children. [phone].

SUNDAY

Inland Pacific Ballet at Claremont Colleges Bridges Auditorium, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20. $18 to $32, children half-price. [phone].

FRIDAY

Southern California Dance Theatre at Downey Civic Theater, 8435 Firestone Blvd., Downey. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Dec. 19; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20. $14.50 to $19.59. [phone].

DEC. 13

Dance Corps' ``The Story of the Nutcracker'' at Sexson Auditorium at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 2 and 4 p.m. Dec. 13, 2 p.m. Dec. 14. $20 adults, $15 children. [phone].

Pacific Festival Ballet at Fred Kavli Theater, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 14. $17 to $32. [phone].

Westside Ballet at Wadsworth Theatre at the Veterans' Administration, Wilshire Boulevard and San Vicente, Brentwood. 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 13, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 14. $25 adults, $15 children. [phone].

DEC. 14

Media City Ballet at Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. 2 and 4 p.m. Dec. 14. $18 to $32. [phone]. Also at CSUN Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. 8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21. $18 to $32. [phone].

DEC. 17

American Ballet Theatre at Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17-21, 2 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21. $20 to $80. [phone].

DEC. 19

San Pedro Ballet at El Camino College Marsee Auditorium, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. 8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21. $23 to $26 adults, $12 children. [phone].

DEC. 20

Long Beach Ballet Arts Center at Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. 8 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21. $16 to $28 adults, $10 to $20 children. [phone].

Palos Verdes Ballet at Norris Theater, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. 1 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 21. $24.50 adults, $15.50 children. [phone].