Performances run until Dec. 20.
Six-year-old Madison Ferreira used to be just interested in dance, but when she auditioned to play a mouse in a local performance of the Nutcracker, the Rahway resident started to aim even higher.
"She's convinced that she wants to be on Broadway now," her mother, Patrice, said. "She's convinced she's the next Annie."
For Madison and the other local youngsters picked to be part of the wintertime classic ballet, it's an opportunity to perform alongside professionals at the American Repertory Ballet, and right in front of friends and family in their hometowns.
The kids are from 6 to 10 years old, and many of them are picked via contacts in local school districts. Some have little performance experience, but Douglas Martin, the creative director, said it's been a success.
"They all did quite well," Martin said.
Getting the kids involved in the Princeton Ballet School isn't the main goal, Martin said -- it's about connecting with the community.
The kids play the hordes of mice loyal to the Mouse King, the antagonist in the ballet featuring young Clara and the Nutcracker. Performances last until Dec. 20.
Picking local kids to be part of the performance helps mesh with the communities where they're performing, Martin said. It has other benefits, too.
"We live in this computerized, mechanized, socialized, online world, where we lose the ability for people to have contact on a one on one basis with each other in community settings," Martin said. "Live performances continue to foster that. It's about community and about bringing people together, especially in the holidays."
There's a big difference between posting a YouTube video and performing in front of people, Martin noted.
Live performance "is really great at bringing people together," Martin said.
Tickets are available on the group's website, with performances scheduled in South Orange, Manasquan and New Brunswick still on the docket.
NJ Advance Media photographer Patti Sapone contributed reporting
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.