Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

After everyone goes to bed, Clara dances around the living room with her nutcracker. Only the light from the Christmas tree illuminated Clara and her beloved present from her godfather.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Stéphano Candreva and Lucy Hamilton perform the roles of the Snow King and Queen. The snowflakes met Clara as she began her journey through the Land of Sweets.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Syracuse City Ballet performs The Nutcracker with their 2022 cast and crew. The ensemble was made up of nine professional dancers and 80 youth cast members along with a number of other guest artists.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Darwin Black and Abigail Stewart dance the leads in the Hot Chocolate Divertissement movement. Black was one of Syracuse City Ballet’s guest artists who accompanied Stewart, one of the professionals that danced with the company.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Lukas Figliozzi and Reynu Wood perform the Divertissement Coffee movement in Act II in the Land of Sweets. The two captured the audience with their slow but intricate movements.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Eight of the members of the flower corps who dance the Waltz of the Flowers are part of the group of youth dancers who received roles in The Nutcracker. Each dancer in the flower corps was dressed in pink and complimented the main flowers and Dew Drop.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Dew Drop, danced by Mary Coon, ends the Waltz of the Flowers in center stage. As the last dance before the finale in the Land of Sweets, Hamilton captured the audience with her clean movements.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Clara dances with her nutcracker after he has been transformed back into a prince. The two danced a duet toward the end of Act I right before Clara entered the Land of Sweets.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Mother Ginger and all the little Gingers dance across the stage in joker-inspired costumes. The Gingers were danced by six of Syracuse City Ballet’s 80 youth dancers.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Claire Solis dances with Stéphano Candreva as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. The two were the closing performances for Clara in the Land of the Sweets.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Clara, performed by Penelope Lane, holds up her nutcracker, which she receives from Godfather Drosselmeyer. The nutcracker was the main prop Clara danced with throughout Act I.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

Clara watches the three macarons perform their dance for her in the Land of Sweets. Cara Connolly, Azusa Okamoto, and Abigail Stewart sashayed across the stage dressed in pastel-colored sparkly tutus.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

The Snow King and Queen dance to Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Snowflakes. Snow fell onto the stage as the dancers twisted and turned across the stage.

Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor/ The Daily Orange

The Christmas tree grows in height while Clara shrinks to the size of the toy nutcracker and other soldiers. Clara’s nutcracker came to life while she was sleeping and she woke up to him standing before her.