A young girl falls asleep and dreams of dancing mice, sugar plum fairies, a snow queen, Russian acrobatics, Arabian dances and gently floating snowflakes all set against the backdrop of a Christmas party and a beloved nutcracker doll. Such is the annual Christmas presentation of “The Nutcracker,” a holiday tradition that is celebrating 13 years in Milledgeville.

Russell Auditorium fills with the holiday spirit as well as nearly 230 dancers each year as The Nutcracker comes to life on the stage and in the mind of Clara, the young girl whose dreams fill the auditorium with a dazzling array of Christmas dancers and music.

Amelia Pelton has directed the program from its earliest days when just 40 or so dancers performed an abbreviated version of the Christmas Classic to its present cast of 230.

As dance classes have grown for “The Nutcracker,” so has the production. In the past few years, new music has been added as classes have increased in number and size. It takes an engineer’s effort simply to get that many dancers on the Russell stage at one time but the production keeps growing in scale each year. And now, rather than the abbreviated version, Pelton is able to add more and more elements to the performance.

Pelton, through the Georgia College & State University Department of Continuing Education, offers the Community Dance Program and works with performers of all ages on “The Nutcracker” as well as traditional ballet throughout the year. Whether young beginners become mice dancing on the edges of Clara’s dream or graduate to the party scene and eventually to become snow or sugar plums or the snow queen, they all carry one desire in common — the role of Clara.

This year, that role will be played by Linzi London of Jones County.

“I was just ecstatic when I go the part,” London said.

Pelton said her ability won her the role.

“She has been working really hard,” Pelton said. “I know she’ll do well.”

Having been involved with “The Nutcracker” for several years now, London has been in the party scene, danced as a sugar plum maiden, an evening star flower and a lady in waiting. She is in the Ballet 5 class and at 13 has been dancing for 11 years.

Reprising his role as the Prince is Thomas Pangia. The Georgia College sophomore is in his third year with “The Nutcracker” as the prince.

“He’s doing an awesome job,” Pelton said. “He is such a natural dancer.”

Lauren Hawthorne of Gray will play the Dew Drop Fairy and Emily Wyche of Macon will be Snow Queen. Jessica Gore of Milledgeville will portray the Sugar Plum Fairy. Pelton said the crop of dancers for upcoming lead roles are already visible.