Alaska-themed Nutcracker onstage in Palmer

WASILLA — This year, patrons of the arts won’t have to go far to see their favorite sugar plum fairy onstage.

For the first time, Sonja’s Studio of Dance will present “The Nutcracker” in its entirety at the Glenn Massay Theater.

“There’s just an excitement in the air,” said Sonja Babcock, the studio’s owner.

The plan was to open the theater with the production last year, but because of delayed construction, the show was no longer timely by the actual opening, and other acts had been booked.

“We knew that there was a risk that that might happen,” Babcock said.

Whatever the setback may have been, Sonja’s will still be the first group to perform the full “Nutcracker” at the Massay.

It’s a uniquely Alaskan show, said director Jessica Atkinson, complete with a “Waltz of the Fireweed” (instead of “Waltz of the Flowers”), an aurora-colored Arabian Dance, a dog sled in the snow scene, and a few rechristened characters: AJ Seims will play Uncle Moose Jaw instead of Uncle Drosselmeyer and Aiden Riley will play the homesteader-style Boon, Clara’s brother, traditionally named Fritz.

“We’re just trying to give it more of that Alaskan feel and maybe make the Valley come see it just because it’s a little bit different,” Atkinson said.

Not everything has changed, of course. The storyline is the same, with most of the original characters in place, she said.

Occupying the role of the queen sugar plum fairy this year is 16-year-old Sarah Latta, a ballet student at Sonja’s Studio.

Latta said she’s been dancing since she was 3. It wasn’t long after that that she began to own her art.

“As soon as I could really think, it was all I wanted to do with my life,” she said.

Seeing “The Nutcracker” ballet onstage has been a tradition for Latta and her mother since then, and pushed her to audition for a part in recent years. Latta said she has performed in two full productions of “The Nutcracker” at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage — with the Eugene Ballet from Oregon and the Cincinnati Ballet from Ohio.

“I think my family gets tired of it sometimes but I don’t think that’s possible for me,” she said.

Latta estimated that she devotes an average of 15-20 hours a week to dancing in the studio, a schedule she’s able to manage with her home school curriculum.

Colony High School senior Katriel Sahlstrom said she’s found it difficult to balance ballet class and “Nutcracker” rehearsals with school, but that she’s gaining valuable skills for the future through it.

“It helps you know what’s expected of you in the professional world,” she said.

Just getting to perform the whole “Nutcracker” is a dream come true for Sahlstrom, who after seeing the show put on by Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle as a young girl was encouraged to dance.

“It was really magical to be able to see that huge of a production at a young age,” she said.

Sahlstrom said she’s excited to see what the Alaskan Nutcracker and the Massay does for the Mat-Su.

“I think it’ll bring the sophistication of a real city into our Valley,” she said.

While few might advocate for a booming Times Square in the Palmer-Wasilla area, ballet teacher Mary Sparrs said there’s no doubt that the theater is enticing outsiders to come to the Valley.

That includes professional New York dancer Jonathan Matthews, who will play the Cavalier (also known as the “Nutcracker” prince) in the Alaska production.

“For dancers, to come and explore places around the world, that’s often a major drive,” Sparrs said.

And as more high-caliber dancers come to Alaska and the Valley, more students will have the opportunity to rise to that same level. Students can get a head start on that, Sparrs said, simply by doing shows with their teachers and other adults (such as those from Enliven, Sonja’s adult, auditioned dance company, of which Sparrs is a member).

“We have found that having teachers perform with students … is an inspiration to them and a chance for them to see more mature dancers perform and learn from that,” she said.

The Alaskan Nutcracker is onstage Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission or $10 for students and available for purchase at glennmassaytheater.com.