When North Beach Elementary School fifth-grader Owen Keith is feeling sad or has had problems at school, he knows the one thing that can always cheer him up: ballet.

"I can get rid of those troubles for an hour and a half and just dance," said Keith, who dances in the Intermediate Boys level at Pacific Northwest Ballet School.

Keith has been doing ballet for more than six years and will be participating in Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Nutcracker" this year – his fourth time in the production.

He said he likes being in Pacific Northwest Ballet's holiday classic, now in its 27th season, because it's a chance to get together with friends. He also said he likes the way the props and stage come together to make "Nutcracker" a great show, for example the moving waves in the opening of the second act.

Keith will be a member of the cavalry when the show opens Nov. 26 at McCaw Hall. In addition to Keith, the show features North Beach Elementary fifth-grader Frances Kuhr and Loyal Heights Elementary fourth-grader Mia Watson.

For more information on Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Nutcracker," click here.

CORRECTION: Keith is now a sixth-grader at Hamilton Middle School. We apologize for the error.

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