Hillview student gets a plum role in 'Nutcracker' ballet Hillview student gets a plum role in 'Nutcracker' ballet (December 01, 2004)

Maya Kelley, a seventh-grader at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park, has a role in the "Nutcracker" ballet that many young girls dream about.

She will take center stage as "Clara" in the Peninsula Youth Ballet performance of the classic holiday program on Saturday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Performances of the ballet also are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the performing arts center, 600 North Delaware St., San Mateo.

"Dancing is one of the biggest things in my life," said Maya. This is the Peninsula Youth Ballet's tenth year of doing the Nutcracker, and she has danced in eight of them. She will perform five or six other roles, such as the "Chinese Tea," in the other performances in addition to being Clara on Saturday night.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 631-3767 or log on to www.pyb.org.

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