This year, the Lake Area Ballet Theatre celebrates a decade of sugar plum fairies dancing across the stage, marking the return of a homegrown dancer.

Lake Charles’ Cecilia Benoit comes home to perform as one of the visiting guest artists.

The curtain opens on “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lake Charles Event Center Rosa Hart Theatre.

“(It) has become a holiday tradition,” said Stephanie Karpovs, spokesperson for LABT. The first Lake Charles performance of the ballet, composed by Russian Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892, was in 1963. The story is set on Christmas Eve in a little girl, Clara’s, imagination.

“The dancers, vintage costumes, stunning scenery and magical Christmas tree will mesmerize,” Karpovs said. “The whimsy of Mother Ginger, the mystery of Drosselmeyer and the thrill of the music by Tchaikovsky provides a delightful classic that stands as a seasonal gift to the child in all of us.”

Joining Benoit, who has danced professionally with the City Ballet of San Diego, are visiting guest artists professional ballet dancers Michael Rodriguez and Katie Rodriguez.

This year’s Claras are Emmelia Hobgood and Anna East. Nutcracker princes are Lucas Kilmer and Elan McManus.

Benoit passed along a fun fact about this year’s performance. “We have two families who have every member performing this year,” she said, “the Reeves family and the Broussard family.”

LABT showcases local talent and professional guest artists each year. The mission of the organization is to stage full-scale ballet performances, produce new and innovative works and provide a strong and diverse curriculum for the next generation of dancers. For more information, visit www.lakeareaballettheatre.com