Let's All Dance, The Nutcracker, Lilian Baylis Studio

When it comes to ballet Christmas means, of course, The Nutcracker. With its setting on Christmas night, Tchaikovsky's glorious score and a rich succession of divertissements, The Nutcracker is performed every Christmas pretty well all over the world.

A variety of Nutcrackers will take their rightful places in London theatres this Christmas, including the Royal Ballet's at Covent Garden, ENB's at the Coliseum and Birmingham Royal Ballet's at the Royal Albert Hall. All those Nutcrackers, though, are long, sometimes close to three hours, and the reality is that very young children may not be able to concentrate for that long, no matter how magical what's happening before their eyes.

Which is why Sadler's Wells's smaller Lilian Baylis Studio hosts Let's All Dance's version of The Nutcracker, which is tailor-made for very young children. But just because at about 50 minutes it's so much shorter than its older sibling, this Nutcracker certainly does not stint on the story and the magic.

It follows young Clara, who's given a nutcracker doll as a Christmas present at her family's Christmas Eve party, in her night-time adventures, where her nutcracker, magically transformed into a handsome young man at the stroke of midnight, defeats the nasty Mouse King, and leads her to the Kingdom of the Sweets. There they meet the glamorous Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince, along with various dancing sweets and exotic creatures.

Let's All Dance's The Nutcracker is performed by professional dancers, and boasts lavish costumes as well as – of course! – using Tchaikovsky's score. Its run at the Lilian Baylis studio last year was a hit with audiences.

And to sprinkle just an extra dusting of seasonal magic on the whole experience, there will be a photo opportunity with the dancers on stage after every performance, providing the children with cherished memories to take home with them.

Age Guidance: all ages. Babies on laps under 18 months free of charge, all other ages require a ticket.