Young dancers know the ropes when it comes to productions of that holiday perennial, the Nutcracker. They can scamper on stage as mice, angels, butterflies, snowflakes, party-goers and in other fanciful roles. Aspiring dancers are invited to audition for such parts in the Moscow Ballet's production of the "Great Russian Nutcracker," which will be staged at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on Dec. 7 and 8.

Auditions will be held at 5 p.m. October 16 at The Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Av. S., Mpls. Applicants must be 7 - 16 years old, have a minimum of one year of ballet training, wear dance attire and may bring pointe shoes. Audition director Natalia Miroshnyk will conduct the auditions. Register on line at www.nutcracker.com/auditions or call Chandra Saign at Bloomington's City Scape Dance, 952-881-6217.