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UPDATE: Congrats to the winner! A Seyler headed downtown for the performance of the choice of Tulsa Ballet's The Nutcracker. 

For $15, for Christmas one could buy:
	<li>A nicer-than-Hanes pair of socks;</li>
	<li>A nicer-than-Fruit-of-the-Loom pair of underwear (men's only - underwear is pricier for us girls);</li>
	<li>A gift card, the near cluelessness of which is not redeemed by <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/shopping/shopping-tips/gift-card-pitfalls-12-07/overview/gift-card-pitfalls-ov.htm"></a>its 27-percent chance of taking up permanent residence in the back of a junk drawer;</li>
	<li>Or, a membership to the fabled Jelly of the Month Club or, even worse, a subscription to Readers Digest.</li>
Or, one could offer an experience, the chance to take part in a Tulsa tradition.

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When I found out that tickets to <a href="http://www.tulsapac.com/calendar.asp?id=1397&amp;thedate=12/14/2010&amp;task=display">The Nutcracker, presented in Tulsa for more than 50 years by Tulsa Ballet</a>, start at $15, I was appalled. At that price, how could I have ever managed to ever miss this production?

Granted, I've seen this ballet about a half-dozen times. But still, at that price, what I felt was the total opposite of buyer's remorse.

A $15 price tag is easy to swallow, particularly if your shopping list is crammed full with good little girls and boys (and ladies and gents). It's nice to know that there's an affordable alternative to the "it" gifts on display in the big-box stores this year.

Besides, a trip to see The Nutcracker offers memories and experiences, both of which pack more of a punch as a gift than a similarly priced item in the bargain bin of some super-sized department store.

Unless it's a leopard-print Snuggie. Those are OK.

The Nutcracker is a classic. Tulsa Ballet’s version, which hit the stage of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in 2003 thanks to <a href="http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=8&amp;task=staffdisplay&amp;staffid=80">producer and Tulsa Ballet artistic director Marcello Angelini</a>, begins with a Christmas Party at the Paris Opera House where its artistic director, Mr. Drosselmeier, announces the French premiere of The Nutcracker. Marie, a young dance student at the Paris Opera School, is captivated by the plot and, once asleep, dreams of being a part of it.

The audience is treated to the classic Nutcracker vignettes: The Dance of the Snowflakes, the Mouse King and the Nutcracker’s battle (including their armies composed of young dance students from the Tulsa area) and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

During the second act are dances that pay tribute to Russia, Arabia, Spain and China, each performed in turn. The sets, created by internationally renowned designer Luisa Spinatelli, are inspired by art deco architecture (always close to Tulsans' heart) and fashion.

All performances are accompanied by <a href="http://www.tulsasymphony.org/">the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra</a> at <a href="http://www.tulsapac.ocm/">Chapman Music Hall in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center</a>, in downtown Tulsa on the corner of Third and Cincinnati.

As Angelini said, “The Nutcracker is not just a story about dolls, candy canes and imaginary kingdoms. The essence of this holiday classic is that of renewed generosity and kindness during the holiday season. It is a celebration of the goodness of the human soul.”

I love that Marcello.

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The Nutcracker has already opened at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, but there are still plenty of performances, and there's sure to be one that suits the busy schedules of you and your family. Check it out (<a href="http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=2762&amp;venue_val=1926&amp;day_value=12112010-12232010&amp;schedule=list">click here to buy tickets</a>):
	<li>Friday, Dec. 17, 7pm</li>
	<li>Saturday, Dec. 18, 2pm and 7pm</li>
	<li>Sunday, Dec. 19, 2pm</li>
	<li>Wednesday, Dec. 22, 7pm</li>
	<li>Thursday, Dec. 23, 7pm</li>
And it's certainly not going to stop me from giving away a family four-pack of tickets here on TDT to the performance of Tulsa Ballet's The Nutcracker of one lucky reader's choice.

To enter to win, <strong>leave a comment below with your instructions on your signature dance move</strong>. We might as well make this fun, right? We get enough Hallmark moments this time of year. Let's have some laughs and variety and spice.

Do all this <strong>before 8pm Wednesday night (Dec. 15)</strong> and make the appropriate sacrifices to the Random.org godsand you might just find yourself the proud, new owner of a family four pack of tickets to see the performance of your choice of The Nutcracker.

And everyone will love you and never question your wisdom ever again. And they'll copy your hairstyle. And shop at the same clothing store as you do. They might even get your something for Christmas besides a membership to the Jelly of the Month Club and a subscription to Reader's Digest.

Good luck, everyone!