Ballet fans can look forward to a magical festive treat at the Durham Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) this Christmas.

The venue is preparing to stage the Carolina Ballet's new version of The Nutcracker on December 29th and 30th.

Having recently enjoyed a sold-out and highly acclaimed first season, the company's take on the classic Tchaikovsky ballet will return to give dance lovers another opportunity to enjoy it.

The Carolina Ballet is led by Robert Weiss, former artistic director of the Pennsylvania Ballet and principal dancer at the New York City Ballet.

Tickets for the event are priced between $30 and $100 plus booking fees, with the show on December 29th taking place at 7:00 p.m. EST and the following day's performance due to start at 2:00 p.m.

People staying at the Millennium Hotel Durham will find they are just four miles away from the DPAC. This distance can be covered in ten minutes by jumping in a taxi.