"Go to a ballet and feel like you're away on vacation," says Gloria Tuohy, founder and artistic director of Indiana Ballet Theatre.

The ballet celebrates its 30th season and 13th year at the Star Plaza Theatre with day and evening performances of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker."

"It's a true family story about a girl with a dream on Christmas Eve," Tuohy says. "It's about how life should be."

And it's ageless. "We all want to go back to magical times and pretend they're real," Tuohy says, "and you can't take away the innocence of childhood."

The story revolves around young Clara, who receives the gift of a magical Nutcracker from her godfather on Christmas Eve. After the party ends, Clara falls asleep under the tree with her Nutcracker in her arms.

At midnight, she wakes to the sounds of mice and finds herself in the midst of a battle, as the Nutcracker and his soldiers defend her from the Mouse King and his army. When the Mouse King stabs her Nutcracker, Clara throws her shoe at him, and the mice go away, carrying off their dead leader.

Clara's tears bring her Nutcracker back to life. He turns into a handsome prince and leads her to the land of snow and the kingdom of sweets. After viewing an assortment of dance acts performed by Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Russian and other groups from the far reaches of the kingdom, Clara and her prince get to dance their own special waltz.

In the IBT ending, Clara wakes up back in her living room and tells the incredible story to her mother, while characters from her dream wave to her from the shadows.

The cast of 150 young IBT dancers is joined by a couple of professionals from American Ballet Theatre and Arizona Ballet, and Michigan resident Andrew Amos (in his 13th season with IBT as Uncle Drosselmeyer). The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra provides live accompaniment at evening and Saturday afternoon performances. The Southlake Children's Choir (Wednesday evening) and the Trinity Children's Choir (Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon) will sing the evocative Snow Chorus in the ballet, plus traditional carols during intermission.

The morning shows make use of recorded orchestral accompaniment.

All hand-made by volunteers, the cheery costumes have been used for several years (with some adjustments), Tuohy says.

More than 100 volunteers help make this season's performances possible, doing such things as ushering for morning shows, helping dancers with quick costume changes, monitoring dressing room doors, and selling Nutcracker merchandise in the lobby, including pointe shoes pre-decorated by IBT dancers.

Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker,' presented by Indiana Ballet Theatre at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 2, and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 3

WHERE: Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 and U. S. 30, Merrillville

COST: $12 for a.m. performances; $24 and $22 (students and seniors) for p.m. performances

FYI: (219) 755-4444 for a.m. performances and all group sales; (800) 745-3000 or TICKETMASTER.COM for p.m. performances

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE: IBT's 'Nutcracker' will be staged 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., in collaboration with the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra. FYI: LCSO.NET