It is that time of year again: students of Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice (NCCB) will perform The Nutcracker Suite for this year’s Holiday Festival, which raises funds for Newtown Youth and Family Services.

The ballet studio will present two performances, one at noon and the other at 2:30 pm, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, during the festival on Sunday, December 7.

Tickets can be purchased as part of the larger Holiday Festival package — $40 adults, $38 seniors, or $25 child (free age 2 and under), which includes entry to all related events that day — or for $20 for those who want to just enjoy a performance of The Nutcracker Suite. Visit newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org for tickets and additional information.

This season’s notable roles include Hadley Marcalus as Clara, Maggie Grasso as Ribbon Candy, Lila Spencer as Sugar Plum Fairy, Vivien Vass as Snow Queen, Ruth Tepper as Chinese Queen, Kailyn Lahey as Spanish Queen, and Zoë Shapiro as Uncle Drosselmeyer and Dew Drop Fairy.

This year’s Holiday Festival is a particularly big milestone, as it marks 40 years since its start in 1985. The event acts as the largest annual fundraiser for Newtown Youth & Family Services, with event proceeds going toward mental health, autism, and community services.

NCCB’s performances of The Nutcracker Suite are a long-standing tradition of the festival, with students from all levels of the ballet school’s program participating to put on the show.

The past several weeks have been quite busy for NCCB, as the students have been hard at work practicing the iconic classical ballet.

Monday, November 24 was especially exciting for the ballet school, as dancers were able to try on their costumes for rehearsal. NCCB Director Tory Gozzi helped her students as they ran through the whole show, pointing out where they could improve timing or positioning.

All the while, students acted as though they were performing for the Holiday Festival crowd that Monday evening. They paced back and forth in their studio space, twirling with colorful presents or mock fighting over the signature Nutcracker.

Dancers also worked to perfect their expressions, from gleeful mischief to painful remorse, as they performed cartwheels or challenging turns and backbends.

Of course, it would not be The Nutcracker Suite without the colorful props and costumes. From the Arabian Queen doing backbends on spinning blue sheets to the Chinese Queen and her dancers performing en pointe with their signature red umbrellas, the show is as beautiful as ever.

Gozzi said she could not be more proud of her dancers, and all the hard work they have put into The Nutcracker Suite.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.