This holiday season marks the 30th year the Northwest Ballet Co. has been entertaining Flathead Valley audiences with its “Nutcracker” productions.

Director Marisa Roth once again brings this classic Christmas story to life with five memorable performances running Nov. 23 through Nov. 25.

Much of the local community has some sort of connection with, or memory from this timeless ballet that graces the stage each Thanksgiving weekend at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. This year’s performances includes a cast of 47, and the show has participants from cities and schools from across the Flathead Valley and beyond.

One of the home-schooled participants, senior Katie Carr, a principal dancer with the Northwest Ballet Co., said, “I would like to heartily thank the Northwest Ballet School and Flathead Valley for 11 years of support while I perform in the Nutcracker. From my first year as a mouse, to this year as Clara, the holiday season wouldn’t be the same without this wonderful classical ballet. Gracious thanks to my community and blessings to all!”

Regarding her principal dance role as the Snow Queen, Whitefish High School senior Regan Tintzman said, “This role and dancing with this company is something like a dream, and the memories working with these ladies are not something I’m going to forget. People leave a lasting impression and this company is a family to me.”

Company principal Megan Rediger, a senior from Glacier High School dancing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy, added: “The Northwest Ballet Company has been such an amazing family to me and I feel truly blessed to have been a part of the Nutcracker for the past seven years. It’s unbelievable that this is my last year and I know that it will be very hard to say goodbye to this part of my life.”

And lastly, Flathead High School senior and company demi-soloist Anika Bennetts reminisced, “One of the great parts about Nutcracker and the Northwest Ballet Company is everyone in the company can pinpoint a time they saw the ballet and took that as inspiration to become the dancer they are now. When we perform we get to see that cycle continue.”

Northwest Ballet Co.’s annual “Nutcracker” is a timeless classic and harbinger of the holidays. The ballet, which features the epic music composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky always promises a professional and delightful production, colorful costumes, and eye-popping choreography and props.