For those students who are avoiding home and staying on campus as long as they can before Christmas, the Overture Center has just the production to keep you occupied. “The Nutcracker” Ballet will arrive at the Overture Center for the Arts from Dec. 19 to 21 and on Christmas Eve.

The characters of Clara, played by Jennifer Tierney, and the Nutcracker Prince, played by Bryan Cunningham, take the audience through the childlike dream that is “The Nutcracker.” This classic ballet showcases the elegance and grace inherent in the dance discipline while using a familiar story to keep viewers’ interest. Simply sitting in on one of the all-day rehearsals and watching the professional dancers pirouette and glissade across the floor will expose the incredible amount of work that goes into perfecting this production.

Artistic Director W. Earle Smith draws his choreography from his 29 years of experience as a professional dancer. He provides a humanistic element to neo-classical ballet which combines precision with individuality. He also taps into his theatrical experiences in his artistic production by incorporating numerous vignettes onstage simultaneously. Smith is committed to his craft but doesn’t hesitate to have fun in the process.

“Back in my day we used to walk to class in the snow, which I can never use because I lived in Hawaii — I could say I had to walk on lava,” Smith said responding to the common Wisconsinite weather complaints.

According to Smith, the average retirement age of professional ballerinas is now 27 years old. This short-lived career is extremely demanding on the body but is also very rewarding.

This is true for the upcoming production of “The Nutcracker,” as rehearsals had to be packed in after Thanksgiving until the performance in mid-December.

“All dancers came in after Thanksgiving, and we’re learning the show in a week, which is unheard of in this industry,” Smith said. “We’re a grassroots company; otherwise we would have them here six weeks ago. These dancers are incredibly talented and very fast learners.”

But, after watching a rehearsal, it is hard to believe that the dances were learned only days ago.

“As an artistic director, my goal is to try to make the dancers look like they’ve worked in a company together forever, in a matter of weeks,” said Smith.

In addition to the professional performances in “The Nutcracker,” the show will feature children enrolled in Dane County ballet schools starting from age six, so audience members must prepare themselves to see pint-size mice pli? and relev? on stage.

“The Nutcracker” will be accompanied live by the musicians of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the Overture Center for the Arts completes the magical environment surrounding “The Nutcracker.”

While Smith has performed and directed in theaters around the globe, he always looks forward to performing at the Overture Center, calling it “one of the most beautiful theaters that I’ve been to. … It’s very receptive and very ‘Madison.'”

Madison Ballet will be performing two more shows this season: An Evening of Romance and Pure Ballet. Tickets can be ordered online at www.madisonballet.org