'The Nutcracker' dances back to LI stages

Let the "Nutcrackers" begin. Long Island has them by the dozen. Here are four highlights.

1 Eglevsky Ballet

WHEN | WHERE noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 17, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 18 at Tilles Center, C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Brookville

INFO 516-299-3100, eglevskyballet.com

ADMISSION $27-$82

Eglevsky Ballet choreographer Lazlo Berda premieres his first full-length ballet with a remake of "The Nutcracker" at Tilles Center. Berdo, former principal dancer with the Boston Ballet, has recruited two current Boston principals -- Lia Cirio as the Sugar Plum Fairy and James Whiteside as the Cavalier.

2 Harbor Ballet Theatre

WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Vandermeulen High School, off Barnum Avenue, Port Jefferson

INFO 631-331-3149,

harborballettheatre.com

ADMISSION $20

Harbor Ballet in Port Jefferson brings back a Tony nominee for its 20th annual "Nutcracker." Ashley Tuttle, who earned her Tony nod for Broadway's "Movin' Out," was a late addition last year when the Sinatra musical "Come Fly With Me" closed. Tuttle returns as the Sugar Plum Fairy opposite her former American Ballet Theatre partner, Craig Salstein, as the Cavalier.

3 Leggz Ltd. Dance

WHEN | WHERE 7:30 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at South Side High School, 140 Shepherd St., Rockville Centre

INFO 516-766-7171, leggzltd.com

ADMISSION $24 ($22 ages 12 and younger)

Rockville Centre-based Leggz Ltd. presents Long Island's only "Nutcracker" accompanied by a live orchestra, the 65-piece South Shore Symphony. "You don't have to go to Lincoln Center to see a 'Nutcracker' with live music," says Joan MacNaughton, director of Leggz Ltd. "The dancers just love it. Being able to adjust the tempo to the dancer makes the performance more lively."

4 New York Dance Theatre

WHEN | WHERE noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17, 1 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18 at John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Hofstra University, Hempstead

INFO 631-462-6266, ohmanballet.com

ADMISSION $35 ($28 seniors, ages 12 and younger)

For its 30th annual "Nutcracker," New York Dance Theatre at Hofstra's Adams Playhouse remains inspired by Balanchine's New York City Ballet version once performed by director Frank Ohman. "Christmas is really for children," Ohman says. "That's one reason we have so many dances for them." The 60 kids in the ensemble, plus extra scenes set to selections from other Tchaikovsky scores ("Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty"), make this the biggest Long Island "Nutcracker" in more ways than one.

5 American Dance Theatre of Long Island

For the 11th year, "Clara's Dream -- The Nutcracker" presents Tchaikovsky's masterpiece from a child's perspective.

WHEN | WHERE 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 3, 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 E. Main St.

ADMISSION $15-$32

INFO www.adtli.com, patchoguetheatre.com, 631-207-1313

6 Ballet Long Island

Take a backstage tour to see how the "Nutcracker" spell is cast and meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and friends.

WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15, 7 p.m. Dec. 16, 3 p.m. Dec. 17, 3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at Islip Town Hall West, 401 Main St., Islip

ADMISSION $25, $16 seniors and students, backstage tour $5

INFO balletlongisland.com, 631-737-1964

ALSO TRY See an up-close-and-personal "Nutcracker," 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., Dec 7 at the company's cozy dance studio, 1863 Pond Rd., Ronkonkoma

7 Conservatory of Ballet and Danse Arts

Students from the Bridgehampton conservatory collaborate with members of the New York Dance Ensemble.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10, 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Southampton High School, 141 Narrow Lane

ADMISSION $15, $10 for seniors, children 16 and younger

INFO dansearts.com, 631-537-1684

8 DanceCore

In "The Nutcracker Sweet," 30 local kids dance with a corps of professionals.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 3 p.m. Dec. 18 at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St.

ADMISSION $15

INFO whbpac.org, 631-288-1500

9 Elite Corps de Ballet of Long Island

Performers from the Sacramento Ballet are featured.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Dec. 30, Centennial Hall, St. John's University, Oakdale

ADMISSION $20

INFO 631-942-7205

10 Hampton Ballet Theatre

East Hampton wedding gown designer Yuka Silvera provides the company's sumptuous hand-sewn costumes.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10, 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Guild Hall's John Drew Theater, 158 Main St., East Hampton

ADMISSION $20; $15 children 12 and younger

INFO 631-237-4810

11 Long Island Ballet Theatre

For its 25th anniversary "Nutcracker," Christopher Fleming directs homegrown talent in leading roles, including Danielle Troyano of Port Jefferson making her company debut as the Snow Queen.

WHEN | WHERE 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at Long Island High School for the Arts, 239 Cold Spring Rd., Syosset

ADMISSION $35, $28 seniors, students

INFO liballettheatre.com, 866-811-4111

ALSO TRY "King of Sweets" reception/photo op with cast follows each show, $7; Tea with Clara for kids ages 3-10 follows each matinee, $20

12 Lumiere Ballet

The Bay Shore dance school's production augments the original 1892 choreography by Marius Petipa with Vassily Vainonen's 1934 alterations.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Dec. 3, 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at Maguire Theatre, Campus Center, SUNY Old Westbury, Route 107, north of LIE

ADMISSION $30, $25 seniors, children 16 and younger

INFO lumiereballet.org, 631-586-2921

13 Lynch Ballet Company

One of the relative newcomers among Long Island "Nutcrackers" recruits Adam Rogers of the Pennsylvania Ballet as Cavalier and Snow King.

WHEN | WHERE 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 17, noon and 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Huntington High School, 188 Oakwood Rd.

ADMISSION $25, $15 children 12 and younger

INFO lynchballet.com, 631-470-9711

14 Ovations Dance Repertory Theatre

You could say "The Nutcracker Suite" is a greatest-hits version.

WHEN | WHERE 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11 at Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 E. Main St.

ADMISSION $12-$28

INFO ovationsdance.com, patchoguetheatre.com, 631-218-0315, 631-207-1313

ALSO TRY One-hour matinee 2 p.m. Dec. 8

15 Seiskaya Ballet

Company founder and Russian native Valia Seiskaya keeps this Suffolk North Shore tradition alive and, yes, dancing.

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Dec. 16, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at Staller Center, Stony Brook University

ADMISSION $40 adults, $34 students ($5 discounts if ordered by Nov. 30)

INFO seiskaya.com, 866-688-8427, 631-632-2787

16 Island girls

Two young dancers from Long Island appear in the New York City Ballet's annual production of "The Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center's Koch Theater. Sophie Hod of Great Neck is in the ensemble as a teen party girl and a candy cane. Lily Chen of Manhasset also dances as a candy cane.

"The Nutcracker" runs through Dec. 31. The Balanchine-choreographed ballet will be simulcast live in movie theaters across the country Dec. 13 -- Farmingdale Multiplex, Holtsville's Island 16 and Westbury Stadium 12 on Long Island -- and broadcast on PBS Dec. 14. Simulcast tickets are available at the theater box offices or fathomevents.com. For Lincoln Center tickets, call 212-496-0600 or go to nycballet.com.