MACON, Ga. — Christmas is just around the corner which means it is almost time for one of Central Georgia's favorite holiday traditions: The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker of Middle Georgia takes the stage of the Grand Opera House in Macon during December.
"Nutcracker is a special tradition for a lot of people and they come every year, and love to see it with their family. It's a Christmas tradition," dancer and Mount De Sales student Mary Ella Green said.
The Nutcracker has been performed in Macon for decades. There are generations of dancers who have twirled to its music and it is a long standing tradition for tons of Macon families.
"Yes, The Nutcracker definitely screams that the holidays are here. Everybody gets dressed up, there's a big Christmas tree on the stage. It's just a great way to celebrate and bring in the holidays with your family," Amy Green said.
This year's performance holds a special place for Mary Ella.
"I'm playing Clara, the main character in The Nutcracker. Most people only get Clara once and its every girl's dream," she said.
A dream that took a lot of work to make happen.
"We auditioned in September, and I've had rehearsal for nine weekends. Some days I have really long rehearsal and some days not so long. It's pretty hard, but its fun," Mary Ella said.
Everyone with the Nutcracker of Middle Georgia is excited to show the community what they've been working on.
"It's going to be a beautiful performance, we have professionals coming in and local dancers. we even have dancers from Columbus and Statesboro Georgia," Amy Green said. "All the dancers love it. There's so much work that goes into it. for it to all come together in the end is fun to see," says Green.
The Nutcracker will be performed at the Grand Opera House from December 8-11. You can find tickets on the Grand's website.