Kimzey Sitton, an 11-year-old dancer from Saluda, will be performing in Asheville Ballets The Nutcracker December 9 through 12. She will dance the roles of party child, soldier, angel and Arabian.

Sitton is an honor roll student at Polk County Middle School and is in her 10th year of ballet. Although this is her first Nutcracker performance with Asheville Ballet, she comes with previous experience, having performed in The Nutcracker for two years with ORCBA, located in Oak Ridge, TN, as well as performances in Cinderella and Peter and the Wolf. She also performed in The Nutcracker with the Chattanooga Ballet in Chattanooga, TN, and appeared in an annual performance of Under the Sea and Sleeping Beauty with Van Meter School of Dance/The Appalachian Ballet in Maryville, TN.

Sittons experience comes from the former Merles Dance Place in East Flat Rock, Artistic Dance Unlimited in Maryville, TN, and Kathys School of Dance in Chattanooga, TN. She has also studied ballet under Amy Moore Morton at Van Meter School of Dance/The Appalachian Ballet in Maryville, TN and under Dance Master Frank Hay at The Chattanooga Ballet in Chattanooga, TN.

Sitton currently dances under the direction of Sonya Monts at The Dancers Extension, LLC in Saluda, where she is also an assistant teacher. Sitton has experience in tap, jazz, ballet, pre-pointe, contemporary and lyrical.

In addition to dancing, Sitton is a member of the Polk County Middle School Band and has participated in gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts and 4-H. She has also been a member of the Foothills Elementary School chorus group and has been selected as a member of Americas Whos Who Among Elementary Students. Sitton is a member of Bible Baptist Church in Maryville, TN, and attends Mountain View Baptist Church in Hendersonville.

The Asheville Ballet company will host its annual Nutcracker Tea on Sunday, November 28 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Asheville Atrium. Proceeds will benefit the Asheville Ballet Scholarship program. Come meet Clara, the Nutcracker, and all the magical characters from this traditional holiday ballet. For information call organizer Kim Engel at 828-713-9923.

As part of its 51st season performing for Western North Carolina audiences, The Asheville Ballet performs The Nutcracker at Diana Wortham Theatre, December 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and December 11 and 12 at 2:30 p.m., with three daytime school shows on December 9. For reservations call the box office at 828-257-4530. For group rates and school shows call Ann Dunn, director, at 828-258-1028.