CAPE DANCER PERFORMING IN NUTCRACKER AT FOX THEATRE

Sarah Semmler, 11, of Cape Girardeau has been selected to appear in the Missouri State Ballet production of the "Nutcracker" at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis this week. The show began Wednesday and continues through Sunday.

This is the fifth year Semmler has been chosen to perform in the State Ballet's production of the holiday classic.

Her roles have included an angel, soldier, bon bon, Mother Ginger and in the party scene.

Semmler began her ballet training at age 5. She has been a student of the Academy of Dancearts in Cape Girardeau since 1989, where she studies with ballet instructor Michelle Morris.

Semmler also appeared in the 1992 Southeast Missouri Ballet Theatre production of "The Fantastic Toy Shop." She attended summer ballet classes in Evansville, Ind., in 1991, the Missouri State Ballet Summer Classes in 1992, and this year the Missouri State Ballet Summer School and the Kirov Summer Workshop Classes at Alexandra School of Ballet in St. Louis.