Not a class for babies. A continual bombardment of challenges that leaves one wanting to work harder; learn to balance more steadily, hold the leg higher, jump with more precision and height, and spin more accurately, all the while making it look easy and elegant. Ballet is a demanding mistress, let there be no doubt. Not for babies.

On the other hand, the development of the Nutcracker continues with shepherds and little lost lambs. Lest you feel foolish for donning finger-horns, consider this: We must step into the mind of a 5-year-old in which fairies and evil mouse kings are easily brought into the plane of reality by sparkly costumes and frightful masks. Their minds are fresh, open, and primed for enrapturement, and the actual face behind the mask is the least of their concerns.

Moreover, ballets like the Nutcracker in all its hokeyness keep the dance alive. We don the finger-horns for the little ones. The little ones in turn are inspired and dream of putting on their own tutus and ballet shoes. They step into their first ballet class, not aware of the 600-year-old torch that they are about to carry. And so it goes.