VOICE ONE:

The ballet is about a young girl named Clara. Clara iscelebrating Christmas with her family and friends. One of herChristmas presents is a little device to open nuts -- a nutcracker.It is shaped like a toy soldier. She dreams that the nutcrackercomes to life as a good-looking prince.

Professional dance groups in manyAmerican cities perform the ballet at this time of year. They oftenuse students from local ballet schools to dance the part of Claraand the other children in the story. This gives parents a chance tosee their children perform.

VOICE TWO:

We leave you with "The Waltz of the Flowers" from "TheNutcracker." It is played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, led byEugene Ormandy.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Today's program was written by Shelley Gollust. It was producedand directed by Lawan Davis. I'm Shirley Griffith.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Ray Freeman. Join us again next week for another reportabout life in the United States on the V-O-A Special Englishprogram, THIS IS AMERICA.