Holiday entertainment these days runs the gamut of tastes and genres, with many artists and organizations seeking to cash in on the spirit and the spending of the season.

Among the offerings of central Ohio arts groups, nothing tops BalletMet Columbus’ annual presentation of The Nutcracker. Now in its 26 th year, it’s the biggest and longest-running show, involving more than a 100 children, a full orchestra, dozens of costume and set changes and the finely honed talents of the region’s leading dancers.

BalletMet’s current edition of the beloved story ballet, choreographed and conceptualized by former Artistic Director David Nixon, opened at the company’s Ohio Theatre home on Dec. 12. With this edition in its third season, the production is improving with age.

Last night’s performance revealed a ballet better for the tweaking, editing and overall evolving that happens when a company presents a work year after year — at least among organizations that aspire to evergreater excellence. The company has clarified the action and sharpened the dancing, both technically and dramatically, to make the production brighter and easier to follow.

BalletMet must be among a fine few American companies in regard to the acting abilities of its dancers. Talents developed during the Nixon "story ballet" era have only continued to grow, coming to fruition nicely in this work’s complicated and busy Act 1.

This version of The Nutcracker centers on Count Drosselmeyer, the magician who sets the ballet in motion with a puff of fairy dust. William Cannon’s interpretation is a delight — eccentric yet nimble and always commanding attention.

Erin Barnard and Justin Gibbs dance brilliantly in the breathtaking Snow Scene and evoke youthful charm throughout. Jimmy Orrante as the Cavalier demonstrates how partnering a ballerina is a special art but also shows wonderful lightness and height in his solos. Jamie Dee is an expressive ballerina still finding her way a bit in the Grand Pas de Deux. In general, the company dances with admirable musicality.

Nixon’s choreography makes significant demands on all the dancers. What one might think of as a small role — that of the Butler, for instance — is actually bravura as well as wryly amusing, especially as performed by William P. Howell. Angela Wetzstein evokes the essence of feline fitness and attitude as the pet cat Je T’Aime.

The children are always a highlight of The Nutcracker and are found in every scene from party guests to pages. The various Mice seemed especially funny this year, as did the tumbling Clowns in Act 2.

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, led by BalletMet’s longtime conductor Gary Sheldon, sounds in peak form. And with Sheldon’s experienced direction, each year finding new excitement in Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score, this orchestra and this ballet truly define the term "artistic partnership."