While exercise and good nutrition are essential to fitness, exercise on treadmills or jogging around the block five times is not often a pleasurable activity. Dance, on the other hand, can become a passion that integrates physical activity with music to become an artistic expression that transforms the experience. That's what makes dance the ideal exercise! Members of the Dance Academy who dance in the Spindle City ballet get to enjoy their love of dance while reaping the benefits of frequent physical work-outs. For more information about classes at The Dance Academy, contact Lisa Bibeau at 508-677-2130. For information about the Spindle City Ballet, contact  Cheryl Burns or Lynne Skillin at 508-536-6073. The Spindle City Ballet will be featuring "The Nutcracker", Saturday, Dec. 15th - 2p.m. & 7p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16th- 2:00 p.m. at the Margaret L. Jackson Arts Center at Bristol Community College. Admission: Adults $15-$25 (with Evening with the Staulbaum's- $40-$50), Seniors- $12-$20 (with Evening with the Staulbaum's- $37-$45) and Children 12 and under $7.50-$15 (with Evening with the Staulbaum's-$19.50-$27). Evening with the Staulbaum's- Dec. 15th 6:00 p.m. includes a pre-performance & intermission- wine & hors d'oeuvres and a post-performance- champagne, dessert & greet the artists. Phone: 508-536-6073, or order tickets on-line at www.spindlecityballet.org.
 

(Top row) Sheena Gowan, Kim Cippola, Libby Stackhouse and Danielle Dragon start their morning warm-up at the Dance Academy studio at 288 Plymouth Avenue. (Middle row) Dance instructor Lisa Bibeau illustrates the dance routine for her students. (Bottom row, left) Britney Lecompt follows listens as her instructor takes her through an exercise. (Bottom row, center and right) Sheena Gowan holds a pose along with the rest of the troupe.