The New Bedford Youth Ballet’s winter performance, “A New England Nutcracker,” is a blast from the past—literally.

The setup: New Bedford in the 1850s. Herman Melville said the city was “perhaps the dearest place to live.” It was a time when New Bedford’s whale oil lit the world. Melville will be there, as will Captain Ephraim Williams.

A few area dancers will be there too, including:

Ari Sweet, Marion, as a Party Boy,
Bailey Sweet, Marion, as a Snowflake,
Kathryn Sebastiao, Mattapoisett, as the Snow Queen
Tori Castanha, Marion, as a Snowflake
Annie Tucker, Mattapoisett, as a French Flute
Camryn McNamara, Marion, as a Snowflake
Lily Eilertsen, Mattapoisett, as a Snowflake

Set to Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” score, the ballet tells of Williams’ daughter, Mary, on a magical dream. She witnesses a battle with the Mouse Queen, sails through a flurry of snowflakes with her Nutcracker Prince, and finally arrives in the Land of Sweets, where she is entertained by dancers from all the exciting places described by her father.

The Youth Ballet will be performing "A New England Nutcracker" December 10 through Dec. 18 at the NBB Community Theatre, 2343 Purchase St. in New Bedford.

Performance dates and times:

—December 10: 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
—December 11: 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
—December 16: 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
—December 17: 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
—December 18: 1:30 and 3 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and children.

All proceeds from the ballet support the New Bedford Ballet Foundation, a non-profit organization.

For more information visit www.newbedfordballet.org.