Venus Rising performs “Rhythms of Diversity,” mixing in world fusion into its traditional West African dance and drum work, with an emphasis on the female role, form and movement; the Children of Kuumba join in for the South African boot dance.

Dance Now! Miami  presents a new works evening at its residence of Little Haiti Cultural Center, featuring  Brigette Cormier, Quilvio Rodríguez, Constance McIntyre, Crystal Lewis, Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderle, and Allisen Learnard.

Directors Alexey Taran and Carla Forte combine live dance-theater on stage with a backdrop of their Cannes Film Festival entry, for Imaginarium Life.

Russian director and choreographer Vladimir Issaev leads his company in a classic Russian version of the most classic of Christmas performances, with a 15th anniversary gala to kick it off.

In fact, it’s the ballet in two acts, four scenes and a prologue: based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. MCB’s annual Balanchine version has become a tradition.

Dec. 3, 9-11, 17,18

The Arts Ballet Theatre brings back a classic Russian rendition of the ballet under the Vlasimir Issaev, with performances at three different venues.

Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Gusman Theater, 174 E. Flagler ST., Miami, at 7:30.

Friday through Sunday, Dec. 9-11 at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 N.E. 188th St., Aentura, at 7:00 with Sunday a matinee at 3:00.

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18  and 19 at Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th St., Ft. Lauderdale, at 7:00 and Sunday at 3:00.

Go to artsballettheatre.org fror ticket information.

Dec. 15-18

Miami City Ballet’s Balanchine Nutcracker has become a Miami holiday standard, this year no exception.

Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 15-18 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht Center at various times in the afternoon and evening; got to www.arshtcenter.org for details on tickets and times.