Branford High School freshman Anna Vescovi has earned quite a holiday gift: She will be sharing the stage this holiday season with New York City Ballet principal dancer Sarah Mearns for Eastern Connecticut Ballet's (ECB) The Nutcracker.

Anna will dance in The Nutcracker Saturday, Dec. 14 at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. at The Garde Arts Center in New London.

Anna is 14 and her mom, Laura Vescovi, says, "Anna lives and breathe to dance.

"She started dancing when she was five years old," says her proud mom.

Anna grew up dancing with the New Haven Ballet group before moving into more grown-up dance organizations, such as Branford's middle school dance and jazz teams.

"Clearly her goal, absolutely one day, is to dance with a professional company," says Laura Vescovi.

And which professional company?

"I really hope to dance with either the San Francisco or American Ballet companies," says Anna, saying she really enjoys the type of choreography both groups use.

While Anna agrees with her mom that dancing is pretty much a full-time commitment, she does have a few other interests.

"I really enjoy photography and drawing," Anna says.

This holiday season, Anna will be performing the role of Dew Drop and mother in her current ECB group.

Anna was accepted into ECB's pre-professional company last year. She is receiving her training from Artistic Director Gloria Govrin. Govrin was a dancer in the New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine for 15 years.

Anna admits to "being a little nervous" about dancing with such a prestigious company with accomplished teachers, "but everyone is so nice and supportive," she adds.

Laura Vescovi says her daughter is "very fortunate and appreciative" to be learning from Govrin. "We feel so fortunate to have found Gloria."

Many of the ballets currently in the NYC Ballet repertory have roles that were specifically created for Govrin by Balanchine. Up until last year, roles like Dew Drop (Anna's role this year) were reserved for professional guest artists.

The training at the company level has prepared ECB dancers to handle the professional choreography needed for roles like the one Anna will be performing.

Anna has auditioned and been accepted into the prestigious summer ballet intensives for the American Ballet Theatre and Bolshoi Ballet Academy.