(Photo: Paul Kolnik; Courtesy of New York City Ballet)

New York City Ballet
New York State Theater, Lincoln Center; 212-870-5500.
Towering trees, onstage blizzards, and pretty ballerinas. Why mess with the success of the late, great choreographer George Balanchine? This one sets the standard.
• Dates: Nov. 23–Dec. 30; Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Nov. 29–Dec. 30; Tues.–Thurs. 6 p.m.; Dec. 19, 2 p.m.; Dec. 24, 2 p.m.; Dec. 26, 2 p.m.
• Price: $20–$120

(Photo: Richard Termine)

New York Theatre Ballet
Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St., nr. Park Ave.; 212-355-6160.
A streamlined, one-hour version that's been known to attract celebrity moms like Marcia Gay Harden and Sarah Jessica Parker.
• Dates: Dec. 14, 10 a.m.; Dec. 15–30; Sat.–Sun. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
• Price: $25–$30

(Photo: Courtesy of Dances Patrelle)

Dances Patrelle: The Yorkville Nutcracker
Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Ave., at 68th St.; 212-772-4448.
The Sugar Plum Fairy alights in 1890s Manhattan for a history lesson en pointe.
• Dates: Dec. 6–9; Thurs.–Sat. 7 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., Sun. noon and 5 p.m.
• Price: $40–$85

(Photo: Courtesy of the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts)

Moscow Classical Ballet
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., nr. Paul Ave., the Bronx; 718-960-8232.
Archetypal ballerinas in sparkling, ornate tutus, male dancers in wigs, and impeccable technique by all comrades.
• Dates: Nov. 25, 6 p.m.
• Price: $10–$35

(Photo: Geoffrey Tischman)

Urban Ballet Theater: Nutcracker in the Lower
Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand St., nr. Pitt St.; 212-598-0400.
The hot-cocoa counterpoint to NYCB’s hot toddy revs up the show with a multicultural cast and hip-hop beats.
• Dates: Nov. 24–Dec. 1; Tues. 1 p.m., Wed.–Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 3 p.m.
• Price: $15