CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Nutcracker is a timeless holiday tradition. A magical tale brought to life through graceful choreography, and cherished music.

 It may look effortless, but behind the scenes, it is countless hours of preparation and demands high athleticism.

What You Need To Know

  • STEPS School of Dance is presenting its own version of "The Nutcracker" at Central Park Performing Arts Center

  • Performances are scheduled for Dec. 17 and Dec. 18; the production features dancers as young as 3 years old up to the professional level

  • A study published in the "American Journal of Sports Medicine" compared 61 physical activities to ballet and they found that ballet ranked as one of the highest mentally and physically demanding activities, higher than basketball, football, soccer and even bullfighting

“Putting so many hours in during the week to be able to put on a production like this,” choreographer Heather Mills-Ossola said. “It is a sport, it is an artistic sport is what I like to say because you’re not just going out and doing something that is an athletic feat. You have to look like you’re doing something that’s not difficult.”

The Nutcracker holds special meaning for STEPS School of Dance owner and artistic director, Lauren Ben Yaqov.

“It brings so much joy. I started ballet because I saw the ballerinas on stage and as a little girl, that’s what I wanted, to be like them,” Ben Yaqov said. 

It ignited a dream that led to her professional dance career. One that took her to New York and even Israel, performing with various companies. But in 2017, she returned to her hometown of Clearwater, taking over her former dance studio.

Ben Yaqov teamed up with Mills-Ossola, a former professional dancer, to create their own version of The Nutcracker.

“We have dancers three years old all the way up to professional dancers,” Mills-Ossola said. “What’s really special about this show is it’s a true community involvement so not only is it dancers from STEPS School of Dance, but it’s also dancers from other studios in the community.”

Caroline Richey is the sugar plum fairy. She says the production has allowed her to advance her skills as a dancer and as an athlete. 

“It’s physical strength, its mental strength. You use every part of your body. Your neck, your arms, your head,” Richey said. “Everything is working and you have to keep consistently working hard every day. You can’t stop doing ballet. You can’t be tired. You have to keep going all the time.”

And for young dancers like Sara Degeuymera who is dancing the role of Clara, it’s a major milestone.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Degeuymera said. “I love being in the waltz of the flowers, and snow it’s the best experience.”

Ben Yaqov says like the character of Clara, whose world changes that fateful Christmas Eve, each dancer goes through their own transformation.

It isn’t magic. It’s hard work and dedication, but Ben Yaqov says the experience will stay with these dancers for a lifetime. 

“For me growing up as a dancer, performing was always the highlight and something that was so cherished and so special,” she said. “I felt there really was a strong need for it, and a need for that holiday joy and spirit that The Nutcracker brings at this time of year.”

For ticket information, visit the Central Park Performing Arts Center website.