PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Ballet Ensemble brings amped magic and sparkle to the century-old holiday classic "The Nutcracker."

North Country audiences will once again be thrilled by Therese Miyoshi Wendler, principal dancer with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, and Duncan Cooper, former principal dancer of Dance Theater of Harlem, who will reprise their sizzling roles as Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

"Therese and Duncan are returning for their third year," said Deborah Guibord-Stay, artistic director. "It's wonderful."

ENTER LAKE PLACID
This year, Michela Boschetto, director of the Olympic Center School of Ballet and established Ballet Ensemble guest choreographer, auditioned her Lake Placid students to join the international cast of professional and student dancers. She was choreographer and rehearsal mistress for "Angels," "Arabian" and "Waltz of Flowers."

Boschetto joins a production staff that includes Guibord-Stay, Bonnie Black, Alice Schonbek, Amelia Schonbek and Betty Seibert in Plattsburgh and the New York City-based Rebecca Kelly.

"We often have students coming down from Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake," Guibord-Stay said. "This time, our students went to Lake Placid. It was neat that there was this sharing in the world of dance. That's a new element for NCBE. It was very positive. It worked out really well. It was just a very good atmosphere. This was a new twist."

Wendler and Cooper will perform as the "Grand Pas" couple, and Wendler also takes on the role of Queen of the North Winds in the "Snow" divertissement.

IN REALLY GOOD FORM
"We always like to make it fresh and different, because after all, it is a familiar classic," Kelly said. "We've been having a great time here in NYC. This is the third year I have worked with this couple. We have taken some liberties to round out the classicism. We are really looking at their particular talent working together and adjusting the classic 'Grand Pas' to make it more personable."

Kelly predicts a fire-cracking performance from her principals, who are challenged to integrate their precision and grace into the overall production.

"I will be there Friday night to see them," Kelly said. "Their partnering is very easy. They're just in really good form this year."

Martina Viadana will perform the role of Claire and Caleb Harris will dance Fritz. This year, the ensemble graduates two seniors: Kari Schnaars, who has been performing with the Ballet Ensemble since she was 7 years old; and Marne Timon, performing in this production for the second time.

Schnaars will dance the roles of North Wind, Candy Cane Soloist and Flower. Timon is performing as Doll, Ice Maiden, Dew Drop and Arabian.

"I kept thinking how 'Nutcracker' is kept alive in our culture by a group of hardworking women and parents," Kelly said. "What is interesting to me is it keeps a steady stream of hopeful dancers coming into New York to shape their dreams. You get the NYC dancers flowing out, and you get dancers from all over the country in New York to pursue their dream."

E-mail Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com