Ahh, December. The most magical time of the year, especially for families with bouncing, bundled-up children skipping into high-school auditoriums, local theaters, and other performance venues, already anticipating the excitement and awe that they will feel as the dancers emerge from the wings and the story of the Nutcracker comes to life. However, for these dancers, that story started several months before, not any less magical for the sweaty, extensive rehearsals that left them sore and exhausted.

No matter how long you've performed it, you've got to admit there's just something about The Nutcracker ballet (I mean, come on, folks... there's a reason it's an enduring classic). To us dancers, nothing screams "It's the holidays!" more than dessert-inspired costumes, lost toe shoes, and way too much glitter spray ever could. It's indelible, the impression Nutcracker season leaves on a performer's mind. It's almost like muscle memory disguised in cognition, smells and feels and glances pirouette-ing in the air.

Speaking of muscle memory...

1. There's always that one little bit of choreography the instructor brings back EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

And, depending on how demanding it is, you find yourself temps leve-ing for joy... or just melting into a sad puddle all over the Marley floor.

2. Remember the Nutcracker doll we were saving for the actual performance? Yeah, well... It's broken now.

And whomever dropped it won't be forgiven for the remainder of the rehearsal.

3. Toenails will be lost.

You will be missed, little one.

4. And so will tiaras. And pointe shoes. And costumes. And entire props.

Somehow, it will happen. But, hey, what's a performance without a little last-minute, backstage frenzy?!

5. There's always that one person who casually misses dress rehearsal...

They can't be trusted with a broken pointe shoe, apparently.

6. Your new tights will wait to rip until 10 minutes before you go onstage.

Nail polish, anyone?

7. "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" will be stuck in your head until January.

Who knows? Maybe one of your classical musician friends will raise an appraising eyebrow when they find it nestled between Drake and Mandy Moore on your playlist.

8. If your studio uses paper snow, you know it as your enemy.

*hacks violently while bourree-ing offstage*

9. There will be way too much glitter spray in the atmosphere.

Maybe Nutcracker season is worse for your lungs than smoking.

10. But, despite the struggle, finally getting onstage will be the best feeling you've ever had.

Please forgive me for the Nick Cage gif... but you know what I mean.