Stephens Auditorium was filled with audiences of all ages this weekend as crowds were excitedly waiting to watch “The Nutcracker Ballet.” Stephens has hosted “The Nutcracker Ballet” since 1981, making it the longest-running annual showing of the ballet in all of Iowa.

Telling a story with no words is almost impossible to do but the talented dancers of “The Nutcracker” pulled it off flawlessly.

“The Nutcracker” had an eye-catching stage-set and vibrant costumes. A wide assortment of colors of the elaborate costumes made for striking visuals as the dancers told the story through movement.

By dancing along to the swells in the music, the performers kept the audience in anticipation of what was going to come next. 

Whether they were portraying fierce sword fights or an elegant gala, the dancers never missed a step. About half way through the performance, a set of dancers from each of the upcoming performances came on stage and gave a dazzling preview of their routines.

The first song of the second act was an upbeat Spanish melody. The castanets kept the dancers on their toes as they pranced their way about the stage. A dance that had everyone in the holiday spirit was the dancers’ rendition of “Happy Holidays.” This performance had an extra-jingly beat to it as the dancers danced with bells attached to their costumes.

Following the classic holiday tune was a jubilant Irish jig. The increasingly fast tempo of this song caused more than a few people to dance themselves in their chairs. This particular tune even had some inclusion by inviting everyone in the audience to clap along to the beat.

Following this happy ditty were the calming melodies of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers.” Each of the talented ballerinas captivated audience with their delicate movements that synchronized perfectly to the music.

The Nutcracker’s final performance was danced to the most iconic piece in this ballet: “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” This routine was made more impressive by being performed as a solo. The soloist seemed to float around the stage when she would painstakingly dance on the tips of her toes.

This performer was not alone on stage for long. “The Nutcracker” ended with a bang as every dancer made their way on to the stage to give their final bows. The audience thanked them with a standing ovation, a gesture that was well deserved.