The Momentum Dance Maui company and Maui OnStage will present multiple showings of “Nutcracker Sweets” at the Historic Iao Theatre from Dec. 14 through Dec. 22. Courtesy photo

Based on Tchaikovsky’s legendary “Nutcracker” ballet, the Momentum Dance Maui company and Maui OnStage have collaborated to present “Nutcracker Sweets,” a marvelous adaptation of the holiday classic which will delight both children and adults.

“Our version of the ‘Nutcracker’ ballet has been created by a team of choreographers,” explains Momentum Dance Maui co-founder Katie Higuchi. “It’s the adapted story from E.T. Hoffman (“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King“). Over the years, we’ve been able to develop and lengthen it a little bit.”

This team of choreographers includes Kathleen McKeon, Jackie Dowsett, Camille Romero, Alannah Andersen, Ali McKeon and Higuchi.

“Nutcracker Sweets” opens on Christmas Eve as the Stahlbaum family, including young Clara, prepares for their holiday celebration. Among the guests is Clara’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, known for his incredible stories and extraordinary gifts. He presents Clara with a beautifully crafted Nutcracker doll.

Eventually falling asleep, she wakes to find toy soldiers marching across the room, and the Nutcracker doll has transformed into a dashing young prince. In time Clara travels to the Land of Snow, meeting the Snow Queen, and to the Land of Sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

“We’ve continued to add things,” Higuchi says. “We’ve added the party scene and adults. This year we are adding the battle for the first time, and we also have our first Nutcracker. So his soldiers will battle our first Rat Queen and her little assistants. We’re always trying to add some new fun and wonder to the production. So it’s richer and more exciting each year.”

With a cast of 50 students ranging in age from 5 to 18, adult performers in the show include Marsi Smith, Francis Taua, Aaron Pardini, Shane Borges, Tina Kailiponi, Barry Kawakami, Nicole Belknap and Esther Levy from various Maui OnStage productions.

“Especially with our talented adult actors, anyone that enjoys seeing their comedy and different things, we definitely have some of that sprinkled into our first act,” she says.

The Nutcracker cast of characters includes “all the favorites. We have snowflakes, we have flowers, we have a Sugar Plum Fairy. My personal favorite is Mother Ginger and her oversized dress. She has 7 little bonbons pop out and dance. We have a cute little group of bonbons. They are little actors as well.”

The show includes all the familiar music pieces we know from the “Nutcracker” like the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and the “Waltz of the Snowflakes.”

The set design team includes Amy Lord, Dawn Kealoha Harper, Sam Maxwell and Luana Whitford-Mitchell, “who also bring the magic of our show to life. With this great collaboration being presented in the Historic Iao Theatre we are bringing the joy of live theater to our community.”

Based in Kahului, the Momentum Dance Maui company was founded by Higuchi and Alana Anderson, offering classes in all kinds of dance. “We specialize in children’s dance. So our youngest dancers, if you can call them dancers, are little toddlers that come in with mom and they’re getting used to the studio. Then we train all the way up through high school. And we do have some adults in some of our classes as well.”

With “Nutcracker Sweets,” opening on Dec. 14, Higuchi says, “We are so proud to present this lovely ballet to Maui. We really are just so pleased and hope that many of the ballet and theater fans in the community will be able to come out.”

“Nutcracker Sweets” is presented at the Historic Iao Theatre on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. , Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for ages 18 and under 18. Children can sit on laps for free.