Behind the scenes at 'The Nutcracker' rehearsal at Palace Theatre is a winter whirlwind

In the two days leading up to the first performance of “The Nutcracker” at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, every square inch of the space is a flurry of activity and excitement.

Onstage, dancers of all ages — some 4 years old — practice pirouettes, leaps and twirls in fluttering tutus and costumes.

In the orchestra pit, the Westmoreland Symphony’s strings, brass and percussion instrumentalists let out staccato notes and long tones.

In the wings and backstage, student dancers and parents alike prepare for the dress rehearsal — the first time they’ll perform the ballet together in costume with live musical accompaniment.

For Alan Obuzor, Texture Contemporary Ballet artistic and executive director, putting together the Greensburg show — which involves upwards of 100 cast members across two performances — is particularly special. Obuzor, himself, first performed in “The Nutcracker” at The Palace as a guest dancer with the Laurel Youth Ballet in 2007.

“It’s kind of great to have all of that experience doing that and to be able to bring that now to my students,” Obuzor said. “It’s nice having all the students that we have and parents and adults. There are so many people who are excited to be a part of it, (so we) utilize all those people to kind of make it a big spectacle.”

Texture performed the ballet last week at the August Wilson Center in Pittsburgh and will bring holiday cheer to The Palace with two performances at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Saturday.

“There’s a lot of preparation involved. It actually speaks to the quality of our musicians that they are able to come in, and they work on the music on their own time, to make sure they are prepared,” said Natalie Ann Kasievich, executive director of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. “It’s like a team preparation. You work on your individual skills, and hopefully if you have that down, once you get all together, you just need to fine tune (it).”

The cast is mostly students, with some guest professional dancers from Texture, as well as parent volunteers, who dance in some scenes with their kids.

“It’s so fun watching the different younger girls stepping up into that big role. Seeing them grow is really fun,” said Sophie Powell, a teacher with Texture who plays Lady Silberhaus in the ballet. “It’s nice seeing from studio to stage how much they change into their characters and what finally comes from that. I think that’s probably my favorite part.”

The two days before Saturday’s performances are precious practice time for the whole ensemble.

Bob Steineck, Texture’s production manager and lighting designer, explained that the ballet troupe begins rehearsing scenes in the studio in early September. But only on the Thursday and Friday before the performance does the orchestra come together with the dancers for a full practice run.

According to Tyler Leach, 16, a student with Texture who plays the characters of the Butler and Coffee, the skills needed are built up over time.

“It’s more of a year-long thing that’s expanding, and you put it all together,” Leach said.