NATCHEZ &8212;

&8220;The Nutcracker&8221; performers are ready. As in years past, color, drama, music and dance will fill the stage at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center, when students of Natchez Ballet Academy under the direction of Mignon Reid present the popular Christmas ballet at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Bonbons leapt and the Sugar Plum Fairy twirled during rehearsals this week. From the youngest to the most experienced, the dancers are prepared; costumes, ready; and the stage, set to provide a background for the story of &8220;The Land of Sweets&8221; and the Nutcracker Prince.

&8220;Every year, you wonder if it will happen, and it always does. They always are ready when the time comes,&8221; said Carolyn Eidt, costume mistress along with her daughter, Erin Myers.

Dance director Reid said she has made some exciting changes this year and looks forward to showing off some of those new ideas in the well-known ballet.

&8220;This is my second year, and I thought we&8217;d try some new things,&8221; she said.

The story remains the same: The prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy are anxiously awaiting their wedding day, but the evil Mouse King, jealous because of their love for one another, casts a spell over the prince, who turns into an ugly wooden nutcracker doll.

As a Christmas gift, a young girl named Clara receives the nutcracker doll and learns about its history. Hoping to rescue the prince from his fate, she finds herself suddenly traveling on a magical journey that includes not only the evil Mouse King but all sorts of interesting characters, such as gingerbread dolls, dancing snowflakes, gumdrops and candy canes, among others.

Dancing in lead guest roles for the 2006 production are professional dancer Anthony Neumann, as the Prince; and Caroline Shull, a former student of Natchez Ballet Academy, as Sugar Plum Fairy.

Act I begins with the party scene. Leeza Bonnette, Abby Hogue and Lauren King are on stage as are Clara Wimberly, the Angels and Caaroline Shull.

Caroline Golden plays the role of Clara. Dania Nunez is Fritz on Friday; Sydney Eidt is Fritz on Saturday and Sunday.

Maggie Kelley and Caitlyn Upton are Ginger Bread Dolls. Kaitlyn Grayson is the Harlequin.

Mary Catherine Butler is the Head Mouse. Mice are Mary Kathryn Mascagni, Kate Mayo and Kristina Seyfarth. Megan Crawford is Head Soldier. Saxon Ballard, Whitney Bumgarner and Claire Upton are Soldiers.

Anthony Neuman dances the roles of Drosselmeyer, Mouse King and the Prince.

Snowflakes are Mollye Ashmore, Sydney Eidt, Kaitlyn Grayson, Grace Jeanfreau, Alexa Mallory, Randa Morace, Catherine Myers, Rebecca Myers and Lacey Willard.

Act II takes place in The Land of Sweets. Caroline Shull is Sugar Plum Fairy. Angels are Katie Borum, Mia Gamberi, Jayde Haller, Hadley Henry, Jewel King, Tess Latham, Liza Mayo, Sara Ross, Christin Smith, Leah Stevens and Olivia Waycaster.

Lauren King and Kristina Seyfarth are Candy Canes. Maggie Kelley and Dania Nunez are Gumdrops.

Pages are Kate Mayo and Clara Wimberly. Lacey Willard is Spanish Chocolate. Sidney Eidt and Rebecca Myers are Chinese Tea. Mollye Ashmore is Flute. Megan Crawford and Randa Morace are Russian Trepak. Catherine Myers is Arabian Coffee.

Robert Pulley returns to play the role of Mother Ginger as he has in years past.

Bonbons are Saxon Ballard, Leeza Bonnette, Whitley Bumgarner, Abby Hogue, Mary Kathryn Mascagni and Kate Mayo, Kristina Seyfarth and Claire Upton.

Dancing Waltz of the Flowers are Mary Catherine Butler, Megan Crawford, Grace Jeanfreau, Lauren King, Caitlyn Upton and Clara Wimberly. Alexa Mallory is the Dew Drop Fairy.

Music for the ballet is from the work of the famous Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who wrote &8220;The Nutcracker&8221; in 1892.