The Columbia Chamber Ballet - the student troupe of the Ballet with Cindee Velle dance school in Long Reach - will offer free performances of excerpts from The Nutcracker this month.

The selections, choreographed and staged by Velle, include solo performances by the characters Clara, the Dew Drop and Sugar Plum fairies and the Snow Queen. New this year is the Children's March from the first act of Nutcracker, performed by seven children.

The production, which lasts about 45 minutes, will be in Howard County at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Great Room at Savage Mill, in Savage; 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Howard County Aglow Festival in Centennial Park, Ellicott City; and 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Vantage House Retirement Community, 5400 Vantage Point Road, Columbia.

Additional performances will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Charlestown Retirement Community, 707 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville; 3 p.m. Sunday in the entertainment court of White Marsh Mall; and 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at Fairhaven Retirement Community in Sykesville.

The public is invited.

Information: 410-465-7674.