Alexandra Dickson and Nathaniel Solis in PNB's "Pinocchio."
Photo: Angela Sterling.

I know where I’m taking my kids this weekend--the ballet. It’s not often you get a high-quality ballet that’s designed for kids, barring “The Nutcracker,” but Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Pinocchio” fits the bill completely. And yes, it’s in Seattle, but have you noticed there’s not much ballet on right now in Tacoma?

What makes “Pinocchio” special is that it’s a ballet danced for kids, by kids, at a time of day kids will be at their best—but designed by PNB’s resident choreographer and produced with their usual superb quality in McCaw Hall. It’s the third installment of PNB’s Family Matinee Series, and the one-hour story of the puppet who becomes a boy features nearly 60 students of the PNB school, rather than the company.

Bruce Wells, PNB’s choreographer, is the one-man-band behind the Family Matinees. As well as choreographing them, he adapts the story, directs and narrates the performances himself. Wells points out that the Matinees offer a great experience for both kids in the audience and kids on stage. While “The Nutcracker” only has limited roles for children, he says, the Matinees “inspire our students and allow them to experience the creation of a ballet from the audition process throught to performance...one that is tailored to meet their talents.” Plus, says Wells, “children love to see children perform on stage.”

The choreographer, who has worked around the world for companies such as the Boston Ballet, the Dutch National Ballet and the Australian Ballet, is a Tacoma native. He grew up in the North End during the ‘50s—a time where he himself loved watching The Mickey Mouse Club and Shirley Temple perform. While attending Jefferson Elementary and Mason Junior High School, he began learning dance with Patricia Cairns before getting a scholarship to the School of American Ballet and joining the New York City Ballet at just 17.

Wells’ “Pinocchio” follows not the Disney version but the original book by Carlo Collodi. The puppet runs away to the Puppet Circus, where Cat and Fox steal his money. The Blue Fairy helps him save his father Geppetto, who has been swallowed by a whale, and turns him into a real boy.

“Pinocchio” runs 1 p.m. Feb. 7, noon and 3:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Tickets: $22-$60 children/$25-$67 adults. 206.441.2424, www.pnb.org