Peninsula Ballet Theatre performs their annual production of the Carlos Carvajal choreographed ‘Nutcracker.’

Each time I attend Peninsula Ballet Theatre’s annual production of the Carlos Carvajal choreographed “Nutcracker” ballet by Peter Tchaikovsky, I, again, wonder why any Mid-Peninsula resident would ever wish to travel to San Francisco, San Jose or anywhere else for a production.

Peninsula Ballet Theatre certainly has one of the best in the Bay Area and by the way, it is not danced to canned music, as it often the case. See and listen to how much better it is when the dancing integrates with the sounds of a full, live symphony orchestra, this one conducted by Chris Christensen, one of the best ballet conductors around.

Even such mundane matters as the easy accessibility to the San Mateo Performing Arts Center in the heart of San Mateo and its expansive free parking add to the pleasure of the experience. It is a great family outing. I doubt any child would vote otherwise.

Without any of the government and/or private funding that graces the big city companies, Peninsula Ballet Theatre has been able to thrive and become the employer of the largest number of professional artists in San Mateo County.

Of course, in these trying times, it deserves the attendance and support of Peninsula ballet lovers to survive, especially because this production, under the co-artistic direction of Mario Alonzo and Michael Lowe, may be the best in recent memory.

The “find” in this 2008 edition is young Zachary Weintraub who, with his graceful movements and hanging leaps, looks to become an outstanding lead dancer in the future of the company.

The Corps de Ballet and the dancing leads is uniformly excellent, with outstanding performances by the Japan-born, exceedingly graceful Mariko Takahashi (alternating with Alison Share) as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the solidly talented Jeremiah Crank as her Cavalier.

Perhaps the treat of the evening is seeing the two artistic directors of the company getting into the dancing act with the rest of the cast: Michael Lowe partners with Terrin McGee-Kelley as the Snow King and Queen and Mario Alonzo with a budding talent, 15-year-old Patricia Rehn, as the Rose and Rose Consort in the “Waltz of the Flowers” sequence.

Alison Share (alternating with Maria LaMance) and Vivian Aragon (alternating with Patricia Rehn) do a knockout job as the two mechanical doll ballerinas brought to the first act party by the mysterious Drosselmeyer (Dudley Brooks).

Megan McDowell (alternating with Nicole Crisci) is the beautiful young Clara, the heroine of the tale, who is gifted with the magical Nutcracker, while Christian St. Claire is suitably impertinent as her mischievous brother, Fritz (and a good little dancer too).

Muhammad Ali may have believed he was the only one to “float like a butterfly,” but that’s because he hasn’t seen Carmichael Blankenship dancing, yet. With a build like Tarzan (which he plays in the company’s “Carnival of the Animals”), not the weight and slim bodily structures of typical male leads, he defies gravity with his effortless leaps and demonstrates amazing control of body movements as he partners with Maria LaMance in the “Arabian Coffee” sequence.

Aaron Simunovich and Vivian Aragon team for the “Spanish Chocolate” sequence with Lauren Mindel as the pesky bull. And “Chinese Tea” features Chelsea Hix (alternating with Danielle Pearson) and Kristin Maguder (alternating with Annabelle Henry).

As usual, all the kids from tots to teenagers in the dancing cast are terrific and obviously are having a wonderful time, with the joy radiating from their faces. They are drawn from local area dance centers: San Leandro’s Conservatory of Classical Ballet, San Carlos School of Ballet, San Mateo Recreation Department, Menlo Park Academy of Dance, Dance Arts Center and Tiffany’s Dance Academy.

Also as usual, the sets and costumes are colorful and beautiful, as is the immortal ballet music of Peter Tchaikovsky. I have been hearing the music from this ballet for at least 60 years. I doubt I will ever tire of it or the beauty of the entire “Nutcracker” staging.