[...] Pizzuto, who has danced in the company of ballet greats Nureyev and Baryshnikov, travels from his home in Pompano Beach, Fla., to surround himself with leaping children and dancing mice for the A.V.A. Ballet Theatre's annual production of The Nutcracker. At the 1982 International Competition in Jackson, Miss., Pizutto won a silver award for his dancing and a Special Jury Award for Best Couple, partnering with fellow Houston Ballet principal dancer, Janie Parker.