The Fairfax Ballet Company will present a holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” and this year’s production features a Chantilly High student and two dancers from the New York City Ballet. 

Show times are Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 30- Dec. 1, at 4 p.m., at Fairfax High, 3501 Lion Run in Fairfax City.Tickets are available at https://www.etix.com/ticket/o/15726/fairfaxballet.

Starring as the Nutcracker Prince is Zane Wilders, a freelance guest artist and teaching artist whose professional career includes performing with the Los Angeles Ballet. And New York City Ballet soloists Emily Kikta and Aaron Sanz will lead a cast of 50 dancers that also includes Fairfax Ballet Company members and Russell School of Ballet students. (Fairfax Ballet Company is part of the Russell School of Ballet in Chantilly). 

Kikta dances the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Sanz performs as both the Cavalier and the Snow King. Chantilly High sophomore and Fairfax Ballet Company member Caroline Musci is featured as Clara. 

This dazzling, full-length production will have an updated snow scene including a new pas de deux for the ballet company’s senior dancer, Hazel Lindquist, and Sanz. There’s also a new act-two opening which highlights the Fairfax Ballet Company Youth Ensemble dancers. In addition, performers will have new costumes in select scenes, and there’ll be enhanced sets for the Kingdom of the Sweets.

Musci has been dancing for 12-1/2 years, the last eight with the Russell School of Ballet. “I was put into baby ballet classes when I was younger, and I fell in love with ballet and decided to continue,” she said. “There’s always something you can improve upon, and it inspires me to keep going.”

She describes her character, Clara, as “an energetic, trusting, 13-year-old girl who’s excited about her new nutcracker. Although she can be almost snobby and is a little upset when she doesn’t get a doll at the party like everybody else.”

Musci said dancing this role is a “dream come true. Clara is such a wonderful character to get to portray, and she’s just so full of life that it’s exciting to make her come alive onstage.” However, she added, “It can also be nerve-wracking because Clara’s such an important part of the show, and it’s up to the dancer portraying her to decide how to interpret her. I especially do that in the pantomime movements within the party scene; there are some points where I look toward either Clara’s friends, her mother or the Nutcracker.”

As for dancing with two professionals from the New York City Ballet, Musci said, “It’s really special to get to watch them dance in person. It’s truly spectacular and inspiring. And it’s also really cool getting to see them perform up close, rather than from the audience.”

She’s also been impressed with how Kikta and Sanz “present themselves in class. They’re confident in what they do. Their dancing has very nice artistry, and they have the stamina to keep performing even when they’re very tired.”

Musci’s favorite number in the show is “Marzipan” because “it’s a fun and energetic piece, but also fancy. And it’s fun to watch the soloists dancing together.” Overall, she said, “The audience will like how passionate all the performers are about their dancing. People will be able to tell how much everyone really loves to dance.”