JAMES CITY — Every year that Noelle Schatzel has given away tickets to her dance company’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” more people facing tight finances have asked for help.

Over the past five years, the number of gifted tickets from SI Dance’s “A Gift from Clara” program has grown from 12 to 45. Schatzel, the ballet’s artistic director, covered the cost for 36 of those $30 tickets last year, with just nine sponsored by businesses.

As a cast of about 100 children and adults rehearses for this year’s December performances, Schatzel is hoping that more local companies and individuals will step forward to buy and donate tickets to the program.

“The arts should be accessible to everyone, and I want more kids to fall in love with ballet,” she said. “I know from my own childhood that wat

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