The annual performance of “The Nutcracker” was a glittery, uplifting story, told through Peter Tchaikovsky’s music and classical ballet dancing.

The curtains were lifted for Act I, revealing two light posts surrounded by prancing children dressed in 19th century gowns. As the children galloped off-stage, the background dropped, making a new setting.

The next major scenes take place on Christmas Eve in a ballroom of a mansion, where a party is being hosted. The hosts of the party are Chief Justice Silberhaus, played by Timothy Bergin, and his Frau Silberhaus, played by Ellen Mullen.

During this grand party, everyone was dancing, the children entertained each other in a duel, and Herr Drosselmeyer, a family friend and magician of sorts played by Nils Krumnack, brought gifts for the children at the party, setting the tone for the rest of the ballet.

Clara, the Silberhaus’ daughter (played by Michelle Osanya), was granted a nutcracker doll, of which Fritz, a jealous young boy played by Adam Wolf, competes her for. Just as Fritz tried to take the doll away from Clara, he struggles to grip it correctly and breaks it.

Clara returns to tend to her doll by the grandfather clock after the party, and later slips into something surreal. She finds herself surrounded by scattering mice and an army of men who seem to be protecting a real-life nutcracker, played by Hunter Glenn.

The nutcracker fights off a Mouse King, played by Daniel Kellen, after then taking off with Clara as a prince to explore Candyland. The audience chucked after watching several mice, in oversized costumes, shrugging away in defeat, turmoil and anguish.

Snowflakes, which fell faintly onto the stage, enhanced the light music and whimsical dancing during “Waltz of the Snowflakes.” This scene portrayed a peaceful, eloquent dance, as faint as the snow falling above them. Harp strings were plucked during transitions between scenes, allowing for a diffusion of scenery and tone of music. Act I ended with the Prince and Clara appearing on-stage to wave goodbye, as if they had been viewing the waltz from a distance.

The Sugar Plum Fairy, played by Joy Voelker Matossian, led a dance with angels, wearing a stiff, white tutu, a tiara, and waving a silver wand. Her dance with the angels began Act II of “The Nutcracker Ballet.”

The ruler and queen of Candyland proceeded to congratulate Clara with a throne, a tiara and a dance ceremony performed by dancers from all over the world.

The many dancers from the ceremony were from all around the globe. Cultures like Spanish, Irish and Chinese were a part of the festivities. Chinese dancers wore silk pants and blouses, and carried paper umbrellas with sticks to hold in their hair. The Spanish dancers held red fans, wore ruffled skirts that inflated with air when they whipped around. The Irish dancers were a favorite with the audience, using rapid foot movements and tapping to initiate with the rumble of the Celtic music in the background.

Dancers in this ballet performed many lifts, stunning the crowd each time. One memorable lift was during the Arabian dance at Clara’s congratulatory festival. The male dancers hoisted the females horizontally behind their heads, on their shoulders, and then sprung them off, letting them slide down the front of their bodies, but stopping the females from falling, at their knee.

One other dance that stood out from all of the rest was the American dancers. This seemed to be more modern than all of the rest. The American dancers wore short, red and white Santa jackets, appeared to be reflecting the “Radio City Rockettes’” image. Other dances, performed by the Flowers and Puppets, were also included within the celebratory dancing.

The audience gave a long clap after Her Cavalier, played by Ramon Gaitan, who took the Sugar Plum Fairy’s hand while she spun, bent and performed leg extensions in “The Prince & the Sugar Plum Fairy.” One of the last dances performed by the Sugar Plum Fairy was “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” In each of her dances, she remained graceful, strong, and poised, yet fierce.

During a solo scene on-stage, Her Cavalier joyously leapt, jumped high into the air, executed multitudes of turn sequences and traveled strongly. His strong performance solo validated his being with and accompanying the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy.

Towards the end of the second act, each culture from the festival reentered the stage to perform for one last moment and then struck a pose, with the Sugar Plum Fairy on the shoulders of Her Cavalier. The curtains closed, and candlelight appeared moving swiftly toward the same grandfather clock from the parlor.

Act II ended as Clara’s parents took her to bed from being asleep next to her beloved doll after the party, allowing the audience to believe the entire experience may have been only a dream. The audience loved the twist ending, as they whistled and applauded for each of the cast members after the curtains drew.