A little girl looking to buy a...

A little girl looking to buy a doll enters a toy store . . . a magical toy store.

So starts the South Bay Ballet’s presentation of “The Toy Shop,” a production that includes elements from “The Nutcracker Suite,” “Sleeping Beauty” and other works. The ballet, to be performed twice today at the James R. Armstrong Theatre in Torrance, is aimed as much at hooking youngsters on dancing as at entertaining them.

A traditional holiday-season offering of the South Bay Ballet, the production features dancers ranging from 8 years old to adult. It will be followed by workshops in which young balletomanes in the audience can learn one of the dances from “The Toy Shop.”

Those attending the workshops are urged to bring their own ballet slippers--though socks, tennis shoes or bare feet will do. Organizers hope the workshops, to be divided by age group, will help youngsters appreciate the challenges of dance--and of art generally.

Said Diane Lauridsen, the South Bay Ballet’s artistic director: “Basically, this is so kids can see that the arts are relevant.”

“The Toy Shop” will be staged at 2 and 4 p.m. today at the James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for the performance and $1 for the workshop. Information: (310) 375-3693 or (310) 781-7171.