It’s never quite Christmas time until "The Nutcracker" rolls into town.

And no, we’re not talking about a large wooden figurine parading down Green Street. We’re talking about the annual production by the Gainesville Ballet.

This year’s production, which tells the story of a little girl whose dream of a beloved gift takes her to magical places, features guest dancers from out of town and the Brenau University faculty, said Diane Callahan, artistic director for the ballet. The show opens Friday and runs through Sunday.

While the story and costumes remain pretty consistent from year to year, she said, the treats lie in dancers such as Peter Swan, who plays the cavalier, and his partner, the sugar plum fairy played by Rommie Stalmaker.

This is the second time Stalmaker has performed the role in this production, she said, and because she and Swan have had a couple months to practice, audience members will enjoy the chemistry between the two.

"I’m very pleased ... I love him to death," Stalmaker said. "He’s been a good change, Because the partner I had last year was an amazing dancer, but we didn’t click."

Just as actors need to show a connection on the movie screen, dancers must convey an attraction as well, she said.

"You have to kind of pretend that you’re in love," she said of her part. "As the sugar plum and cavalier, this is your land of sweets. If you’re not in love, then what’s the point?"

While many of the dancers have gone through the movements of "The Nutcracker" before, others, including a bevy of little angels, will be performing these moves for an audience for the first time.

Derrick Smith, a Brenau University student who plays three different characters, said this performance has been a completely new experience for him.

"This has kind of opened up a new can of worms for me," he said. "It’s been hard. It’s been stressful, but I’ve been able to accomplish and achieve everything (Callahan) asked me to."

But it’s these first time experiences that fellow dancer Jolie Long appreciates. Long, who is on the dance faculty at Brenau with Vincas Greene and dances with him during the Arabian dance, said this is a good chance to see her students in action.

Although, she is quick to point out that she does not give them pointers from the sidelines. Instead, she hopes to teach by example.

"I think it’s fabulous, because we really get to see them in their element," she said. "This is what we push and train them for ... Be on time, be ready, sign in, warm up."

A large portion of the cast is children — the youngest angel is 7 — but herding the crowd of children through the weeks of rehearsals is no problem for Callahan. After 25 years of directing the production, Callahan said the key to getting it off the ground is delegating responsibility.

We’ve really got Nutcracker pretty much down pat. It’s not terribly stressful," she said. Rather, the experience is good for both kids and professional dancers alike.

"It’s so magical," she said.