"The Nutcracker" ballet is a family favorite around the holiday season. It's based on the fairytale story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E.T.A. Hoffmann and is set to classical music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Although different ballet companies may adapt their choreography and the story slightly, the basic narrative is always the same: On Christmas Eve, a young girl, Clara, gets a Nutcracker doll from her uncle, Dr. Drosselmeyer. She then enters a dream world, where the toy transforms into a prince. If you're going to watch "The Nutcracker" this holiday season, get to know some key characters in the following guide.

A Character Guide for "The Nutcracker" Ballet

1. Clara

Clara Stahlbaum is the main character in "The Nutcracker." She is a young German girl and the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum. The story starts with a snapshot of her, her brother, and her parents as they celebrate Christmas Eve with friends and family. It's an idyllic holiday scene, showing the group gathering around the tree, the kids playing together, and the adults doling out presents.

Clara gets the pivotal gift—the Nutcracker—from her godfather, Dr. Drosselmeyer. He also brought many other life-sized, wind-up dolls with him for the holidays, but the Nutcracker is his special gift to Clara. She receives the doll happily and loves it so much that she even sneaks back down to look at her new toy after she's supposed to go to bed.

Once she falls into a deep sleep, the clock chimes midnight—marking the point when Clara transitions from the real world to a dream world. The young girl goes on to have a series of fantastic adventures with her Nutcracker Prince. Together, they explore strange lands, like The Land of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy. Clara's dreams are the bulk of "The Nutcracker" storyline, and the ballet concludes with her waking up with her doll by her side and realizing she's been dreaming.

2. The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker first appears to be a simple wind-up toy when Clara gets the wooden figure from Dr. Drosselmeyer. However, the toy gains new significance once Clara falls asleep. As the clock strikes midnight, she dreams that she's being woken up by the sound of mice. The rodents surround the scared girl, making it impossible for her to escape. But just when she feels all hope is lost, the Nutcracker suddenly appears to rescue her.

The Nutcracker and his troop of soldiers battle the villainous Mouse King. However, it's ultimately Clara who defeats him, at which point, the Nutcracker transforms into a prince. The duo travels to exotic worlds, such as The Land of Snow, where they dance among a flurry of snowflakes. In The Land of Sweets, various characters perform for Clara as a way to say "thank you" for saving the Nutcracker Prince from the evil Mouse King.

In some iterations of the story, the Nutcracker is actually Hans-Peter, Dr. Drosselmeyer's nephew. In these versions, the real and dream worlds overlap, and it's said that the young boy was transformed into the Nutcracker doll by the Mouse King's mother. Dr. Drosselmeyer gives Clara the toy, hoping she can break the spell. In the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman, the characters of Clara and the Nutcracker end up marrying.

3. Dr. Drosselmeyer

Dr. Drosselmeyer is the character that sets off the entire chain of events of "The Nutcracker" by giving Clara the doll. In some versions of the ballet, the uncle is painted as an imposing, foreboding figure who is responsible for launching Clara into the menacing dream world with the evil Mouse King. Dr. Drosselmeyer is often shown wearing a cape or an eye patch and is usually clad in dark colors.

In other versions of the story, Uncle Drosselmeyer is shown as a more fun-loving—yet still mysterious—character. He entertains children with magic tricks and charms them with his unique Christmas presents, like the wind-up toys. These toys add to his mystical appeal, as they seem to magically move and float in the air. Dr. Drosselmeyer introduces magic into the storyline before Clara even falls asleep and starts dreaming.

4. The Sugar Plum Fairy

Along with her Cavalier, the Sugar Plum Fairy is the guardian of The Land of Sweets. She welcomes the Nutcracker Prince and Clara to the land, performing a dance for them in a traditional ballet tutu. The "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" is one of the most well-known musical moments in "The Nutcracker," and you'll likely recognize the song when you hear it. The Sugar Plum Fairy introduces Clara and the Prince to many other whimsical beings, including Spanish and Arabian dancers.

At the end of Clara's visit to the enchanted land, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance for two, known as the "Pas de Deux," to say farewell. Clara wakes up to discover the entire adventure was simply a dream. Meanwhile, her Nutcracker doll has been lying by her side the whole time as she slept.

If you're looking forward to seeing the characters from "The Nutcracker" come to life this holiday season, get tickets for the performance put on by Caledonia Dance & Music Center. This dance studio has been a staple of the Caledonia, MI, and Kent County community since 1983. Their instructors provide children with an outlet to hone their creativity through various styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop. They also offer music lessons, tumbling, and gymnastics. View the class schedules online, and buy your tickets for "The Nutcracker" ballet on their website. If you have any questions, call (616) 891-1606.