‘The Nutcracker’ at the Westside School of Ballet

Ballet dancers Talya Marks, 13, Milly Davies, 13 and Camilla Marks, 13, get dressed into their Peppermint Candy costumes during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Ellen Hunt, left, watches with her granddaughter, Daisy Kohner, 10, as Sara Akiba, 9, and Daniella Zhou, 9, wait to go on stage during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Charity Drake, 12, looks for scissors in the costume room during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Ballet dancer Talya Marks, 13, rehearses the Peppermint Candy scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Dancers practice during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Ballet dancer Kailan Jenwick puts on her tiara during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Adele Hall, 16, from second left, waits to go on stage during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Dancers gracefully wave their hands in the air during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Dancers stretch during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Santa Monica College Orchestra Conductor Dr. James Martin observes dancers during the party scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Lucia Connelly stands on her toes as she runs through the Sugar Plum Fairy scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Ballet dancers run through the Land of the Snow scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Anna Davtyan, 13, left, and Cailyn Genewick, 13, put makeup on before a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

A ballet dancer uses a fan as she runs through the Spanish scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Westside School of Ballet Artistic Director Martine Harley observes her students during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Charity Drake, 12, puts on her shoes during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Artistic Director Martine Harley, left, shows Lucia Connolly, 15, how to crown Clara with a tiara during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Lucia Connolly, 15, right, controls her breathing as associate wardrobe director Nancy Drake squeezes her into her Sugar Plum Fairy dress during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Dancers get dressed during a rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Ballet dancers Mikaela Sayyah, 14, Alexa Fallica, 13, Skye Wight, 14, Ava Shapley, 12, and Sara Akiba, 9, watch other dancers during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Artistic Director Martine Harley goes over some notes with her students during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Guest dancer from San Francisco Ballet Jennifer Stahl runs through the Sugar Plum Fairy scene during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Lucia Connolly, 15, rehearses her part as the Sugar Plum Fairy during a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. The production will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.  (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)