In the "Nutcracker," which American audiences have adopted as a holiday tradition, Clara ends up in the Kingdom of Sweets. In "The Great Russian Nutcracker" to be presented Monday at the Show Me Center, the heroine named Masha winds up in the Land of Peace and Harmony. This tweaking of the U.S. version comes with astounding 10-foot-tall animal puppets and backdrops based on the work of Russian painters.

Masha travels from land to land seeking peace. That the young heroine would yearn for peace and harmony rather than sweets tells you what the Russian artists presenting the current "The Great Russian Nutcracker" think of the state of the world.

The Moscow Ballet is a pure classical ballet company known more for preserving traditions than altering them. The change was the idea of designer Valentin Federov, whose native republic of Chuvash lies between Moscow and the capital of the Chechen Republic.

Another difference American audiences may notice Monday is in the male ballet dancers. In the classical tradition adhered to by this company, male ballet dancers are very strong, gymnastic and masculine. They convey heroic movements through oversized gestures.

"It is an idealized figure in Russian culture," producer Akiva Talmi says.

The ballerinas are diminutive and can leap very high but are chosen for their beauty as well as their dancing ability. "They are like Hollywood stars." Talmi says.

Twenty-five women and 25 men from the Moscow Ballet will dance in the production.

A number of local young dancers will be among all the Snowflakes, Angels, Butterflies and Mice who perform in the ballet. They include: Molly Turner, 8; Taylor Stevens, 8; Majhon Phillips, 14; Paloma Scarpaci, 10; Julia Rodenas, 10; Emily Thompson, 9; Jessica Davis, 11; Casey Seabaugh, 11; Alexis Rae Strokoff, 11; Morgan Peters, 11; Chelby Cinnamen Chezem, 12; Alyssa Roehm, 7; Christine Sturms, 13; Claire Gillard, 8; Molly Jean Morris, 9; Brianna Danielle Lueders, 8; Lydia Meece, 9; Grayson Erlbacher, 27; Barbara Gillard, 13; Taylor Leming, 8; Amanda Morrow, 15; Lauren Froemsdorf , 15; Kelsey James, 8; Ashley N. Skinner, 15; Amanda Whaley, 14; and Laci Thorne, 14. They are all from Jackson.

Also dancing in the production will be: Krista Hyde, 21; Madison Neely Wessell, 10; Harlie Waldon, 9; Paige Kiefner, 10; Rheagan Butler, 10; Lessley Dennington, 10; Rachel Berry, 11; Gabrielle Murray, 10; Shailey Boaz, 10; Jared Murray, 13; Victoria Jackson, 9; Brooke Burac, 8; and Caroline Harding, 9. They are all of Cape Girardeau.

Other dancers are: David Beyer, 9 and Ali Braun, 12, of Farmington, Mo.; Lisa Lambert, 11, Alyssa Kapp, 9, Paige Danielle Johnson, 8, and Nicolette Gremaud, 8, of Perryville, Mo.; Corie Gibbs, 10 and Katerina Guebert, 11, of Steeleville, Ill.; Rachel Gilpin, 10, of Evansville, Ill.; and Megan Atchison, 10, Laura Liefer, 9, Brittany Hammel, 10, Jamie Chambers, 11, Shelby Long, 8, and Kristen Maes, 8, of Chester, Ill.

All were chosen in an audition conducted by Moscow Ballet soloist Rusudan Kvitsiani. They have been rehearsed every Saturday since then by Jackie Robertson, owner of Dance Extensions in Jackson.

Their last rehearsal will be held Saturday with a dress rehearsal scheduled Monday.

"So far so good," Robertson said of the dancers' progress in learning the moves.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182