Tonight, Kirstie Wilkinson (12) will come close to flying. Suspended onstage by only the tips of her satin-covered toes touching the floor, she will twirl and leap as a Sugar Plum Fairy on the opening night of her final Nutcracker production with 4S Dance Academy.

As the only high school senior at her studio, Wilkinson is performing in the technically advanced role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for the first time. In her seven previous performances of the production every year since sixth grade, Wilkinson has played nearly every role, from a waltzing snowflake, to the flowy Arabian dancer to the mouse queen facing off against the nutcracker. The whirlwind of technique classes and rehearsals is nothing new to her, but this year’s preparation has been the most intense yet. Since late August, she has spent 15 hours weekly training in technical ballet and an additional six on Saturdays at rehearsals.

“Ballet is a very demanding sport and I have to sacrifice a lot for it,” Wilkinson said. “I can’t hang out with friends on Saturdays. I’m at dance the entire day. Afterwards I’m completely exhausted.”

In preparation for The Nutcracker, Wilkinson learned choreography for her roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Mrs. Stahl-baum (Clara’s mother), and a Snowflake (the only role of the three she’s had in previous years). For the other roles, she’s learned brand new choreography.

“[When learning new choreography,] you get a couple of eight counts, you’ll mark it with music, you’ll run it, then [the studio owner] will give you a correction,” she said. “For snow [scene], I’ve been doing it for so long that it’s kind of engraved in me. It’s muscle memory.”

As the Sugar Plum Fairy, Wilkinson has faced unfamiliar challenges. Her six-minute “pas de deux” (duet) with the character of the Cavalier has put Wilkinson in new territory as she learns to dance with a partner for the first time.

“[My partner and I are] doing lifts, we’re doing things I haven’t done on pointe before, so it is a huge leap from things I’ve previously done,” Wilkinson said. “When you’re dancing in a solo or a corps [group], you’re relying on yourself. But the second you add someone else to the mix, especially someone who is supposed to be guiding you and helping you through it, it gets really difficult. Partner connection is super important, [but] it’s kind of hard because I [have] to really get to know him.”

Although she’s faced it before, she said the repetitive practice required for the snowflakes scene has been challenging.

“It’s essentially six minutes of straight cardio that our teachers will make us run twice in a row just to get our stamina up,” Wilkinson said. “Not even by the end of the first half of the first run, you’re panting, beads of sweat are in your eyes and you have to keep smiling, keep going.”

Despite all the hard work, Wilkinson said that the preparation feels worth it when she performs for her friends during rehearsals.

“When I do a good job, it feels amazing because everyone’s clapping and everyone’s like, ‘oh my gosh, that was so good, I can’t believe you did that,’” Wilkinson said. “That’s really rewarding.”

She said that her favorite roles over the years were the ones with costumes and choreography styles that suited her body and tastes the most.

“The dew drop outfit and snow queen outfits were gorgeous,” Wilkinson said. “The movements in Arabian are very long and flowing and because that suits my body type, it feels better to do. I hated being cast as [the] Spanish [dancer] because it’s quick and fast and jumping and that’s just not what I’m built for [as someone] with longer legs.”

Although her studio will have more performances through June, none measure up to the scale of The Nutcracker. When Wilkinson finishes high school in six months’ time, she will be preparing to close the curtain on her eight years of dancing, as well as the studio she stayed with the entire time. She said the turning over of this leaf brings up fond memories of the past.

“It’s a bit bittersweet being my last year,” Wilkinson said. “I feel like I have really done everything that there is to offer [at the studio]. I’ve grown up with these people. It’s kind of sad that I’m not going to be seeing them on a daily basis anymore. I’m friends with all of them so we’ll keep in touch.”

At the same time, 20 hours of ballet training per week has been a burden at times. Wilkinson said it will be nice to leave some of the stress behind as she finds time to explore other interests and opportunities without the rigor of ballet directing her life.

“I’m content with what I’ve done,” Wilkinson said. “I think I’m ready to let [ballet] go and move to something a little less intense. What I am really happy about is that ballet has given me the discipline [so that] I really think I can do any sport.”

As her show approaches, Wilkinson said that she’s feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement.

“I’m definitely a little bit nervous, especially because you’re never really done working on [the performance, and my partner and I] only get to practice [pas de deux] once a week,” Wilkinson said. “It’s been difficult, but I’m excited at the end of the day, and I think it’ll be fun.”