As a furious Rat King lunges across the stage to stab his enemies, the Sugar Plum Fairy prances with her prince while an angry French man chases down a frog with fork and knife in hand.

These eccentric and enchanting characters clash under the spotlight, transforming “The Nutcracker” into a timeless holiday classic.

Since 1972, the Houston Ballet has performed “The Nutcracker” every year, making it a beloved Houstonian tradition. This year, the Houston Ballet will run “The Nutcracker” from Nov. 29. to Dec. 29., and tickets can be purchased on their website.

Through music, dance and storytelling, “The Nutcracker” depicts the story of Clara Stahlbaum, a little girl who’s transported into an extraordinary world along with the Nutcracker, Clara’s favorite doll, and Drosselmeyer, a mysterious magician. As Clara faces the difficult challenge of defeating the evil Rat King, she encounters numerous marvelous characters, ranging from a frosty Snow Queen to a pair of royal cat guards. After defeating the Rat King, Clara travels to the Land of the Sweets to celebrate and becomes an honorary princess, before finally waking up in her home with only memories of her fantastic trip.

As a first-time watcher, I had high hopes, and Houston Ballet did not disappoint. Artistic director Stanton Welch’s rendition of “The Nutcracker,” which premiered in 2016, is dazzling and had me on the edge of my seat for the entire ballet.

That being said, let’s replay my favorite moments and dive into the magical kingdom of “The Nutcracker.”

Music:

Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the music for “The Nutcracker” in the late 19th century, creating classics such as “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “The Nutcracker: March.” During the ballet, a pit orchestra accompanied the dancers, breathing life into Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces.

Of the unforgettable pieces, “The Waltz of the Flowers” stole my heart. It’s played after the defeat of the Rat King, when subjects of the Land of the Sweets, flowers, celebrate their victory. Towards the beginning of the composition, the brass and harps created an angelic tone and the clarinet and string instruments seamlessly blended in a smooth, rise-and-fall melody. The orchestra genuinely captured the beauty of flora and the euphoria of victory.

Costumes:

Now, if there’s anything to say about “The Nutcracker,” it’s that the costumes never fail to amaze me. Before the performance, characters dressed as dolls littered the stage wings, and I stared in awe at the costumes. My favorites include the Rat King, the Snow Queen and the animal side characters.

Besides a rat mask and tail, the Rat King looked like a true aristocrat. The costume featured an assortment of medals, royal crimson garments with gold accents, a hefty crown, a long, fluffy cape, and most importantly, a huge potbelly. You could practically feel the arrogance of this rodent from miles away!

The Snow Queen’s costume mesmerized me. She donned a crown made of icicles, a glittering, white gown with more icicles hanging off her sleeves, and an ice scepter. The gown added contrast between her and the other dancers who wore tutus, and its silver embellishments caught my eye. Her costume screamed regality, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

In Welch’s “The Nutcracker,” there are seven animal ambassadors for seven nations, each with an animal head and their respective nation’s cultural attire. A frog represents France, a bull for Spain, a bear for Russia, a wolf for Denmark, a lion for Arabia, a panda for China and a bulldog for Great Britain. There were also penguin servants and royal cat guards, making the ballet truly nonsensical. The costumes were so realistic that I genuinely thought a human-sized penguin waddled across the stage.

Dance:

The choreography of “The Nutcracker” absolutely captivated me. It brought the ballet to life and perfectly portrayed the moods of every scene.

During Clara’s first encounter with the Rat King, the fight between the toy soldiers and rats resembled a chess game. Soldiers and rats lined up in horizontal lines, dancing back and forth. I loved the decision for the Rat King to dance big and leap across the stage, adding to his menacing character. While the Rat King’s choreography was threatening, the Snow Queen danced gracefully. Dancers representing flurries delicately swept the stage while fake snow fell over the audience, creating a winter wonderland.

The most memorable dance revealed itself during the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker’s final dance, a grand pas de deux. The final dance is structured into five parts: the entreé (entrance), adagio (slow partnering), two variations (solos), and the coda (concluding dance). Despite the choreography being laborious, the dancers made it look effortlessly stunning.

Even when dancers weren’t in the spotlight, they interacted with each other, adding nuggets of humor and wit through comedic exchanges. For example, as the Shepherdess pranced across the stage, Denmark’s foxes teased the other animal ambassadors. During the performances in the Land of the Sweets, an angry French man constantly tries to eat a frog, sprinkling comedy throughout the ballet. For those who might not be particularly interested in ballet or the story of “The Nutcracker,” these bits of humor are especially refreshing.

Outside of the choreography itself, I enjoyed the diversity of the cast. As I skimmed through the casting list, I noticed the unique identities of the Houston Ballet dancers. Kellen Hornbuckle played Clara when I watched the ballet, and her energetic portrayal of Clara’s curiosity and bravery made the character fresh and admirable. While Hornbuckle was born in the US, many dancers for the Houston Ballet came from all across the world. Karina Gonzalez, the Sugar Plum Fairy, traveled from Venezuela; Angelo Greco, the Nutcracker Prince, arrived from Italy; and both Chae Eun Yang and Danbi Kim flew from South Korea to join the Houston Ballet. It’s incredible that a ballet first performed in Russia over a hundred years ago evolved into an intersection for a plethora of cultures.

Set:

From Clara’s bed to the Land of the Sweets, everything seemed natural. Even from the balcony, I was transferred into the story, and the attention to detail brought the ballet to life.

Of all the sets, I enjoyed the Land of the Sweets the most. Featuring a set that resembled something straight out of “Candy Land,” the scene was pure delight. I felt like a kid in a candy shop, albeit one with a golden throne.

One of the most memorable transitions occurred when Clara journeyed from her home to the Nutcracker’s realm. As the lights dimmed, the Stahlbaum house turned inside out and revealed a dreamlike world of giant presents and life-sized dolls. Bits of colorful light speckled the stage, simulating an enchanting rabbit hole.

Overall, I highly recommend seeing “The Nutcracker” this holiday season. It flawlessly transports you into a whimsical world with fantastical characters and performances that capture the holiday spirit. Whether you’re a ballet connoisseur or new like I am, “The Nutcracker” is sure to mesmerize you and leave you bursting with festive cheer.