Ballet B.C.’s financial woes are having an unintended ripple effect: ticket sales for Royal City Youth Ballet Company's first Vancouver performance are taking a hit.

Unfortunately for the New Westminster dance company, the piece they're performing December 21 at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts is—you guessed it—The Nutcracker. (Ballet B.C. has been urging Vancouverites to support its presentation of the Moscow Classical Ballet's Nutcracker.)

“All this publicity for Ballet B.C.—and please support Ballet B.C.—that’s not helping us at all,” said Donna Fishwick, a member of the ballet company’s board of directors.

The dance company has sold out performances in Abbotsford, Surrey, and New Westminster, said Fishwick, and  wanted to celebrate its 20th year by giving its first Vancouver performance.

“All our publicity is getting all mixed up," she said. "People are saying, ”˜Oh, I though you were bankrupt!’ And no, we’re not.”

To confuse matters further, the show even features Ballet B.C. dancer James Gnam as the Cavalier.

The Centre can accommodate 1,800 seats, and Fishwick said she's sold about half that many tickets.