One of the best things about the holiday season in Milwaukee is the absolutely wonderful performances on stages throughout the city.

In the past week alone I have watched and been moved by "A Christmas Carol" at The Rep, almost died laughing at "‘Twas the Month Before Christmas’," at Next Act, and finished off the week with the best "The Nutcracker" I have ever seen the Milwaukee Ballet perform.

Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts was packed with families and literally hundreds of little girls dressed in their holiday finery. Many of them could hardly see over the people in front of them, but the squeals of delight cast a glow of warmth throughout the place.

Artistic Director Michael Pink is a master storyteller among the elite in the world of ballet but he understands clearly that "The Nutcracker" is less about a story and more about moments and characters. He created the moments with spectacular use of sight and sound and the grace and skill of a company big enough to sink a warship.

The task of moving all these bodies on and off stage and around the place without anyone getting killed is an amazing feat all by itself. Combine that with a performance designed to keep the children laughing and the adults paying attention and you have a real holiday treat.

Pasquale Laurino led the ballet orchestra through the familiar and evocative music by Tchaikovsky and the company on the stage seemed to be part and parcel of this magnificent score.

One thing you always get with a Pink ballet is fully realized characters with acting just as important as dancing.

The most famous of the characters in this ballet are Clara and her older sister Marie (Alana Griffith and Luz San Miguel) and Karl and Fritz (Arionel Vargas and Barry Molina).

Vargas is a guest artist with Milwaukee Ballet this season and he teamed with San Miguel for one of the most magical moments in the production.Their pas de deux was full of flirting and depth of feeling and both dancers had a palpable connection on stage.

San Miguel, who is in her 10th season here, continues to be a marvel, combining strength and power with her dainty agility into a dancer who can carry any role with triumphant grace.

Timothy O’Donnell, who is the choreographer in residence, was dazzling as mysterious Drosselmeyer. This role has been danced by many of the world’s greatest, including Rudolf Nureyev and it’s a role full of magic and wonder. O’Donnell captured every nuance of of the character and created just the right atmosphere of wonder that made everything that happened believable.

There were so many highlights that it’s difficult to hit all of them.

Nicole Teague danced the Shepherdess Doll and created a character both cute and winsome with a touch of humor that made the kids laugh.

Janel Meindersee was an elegant Snow Queen in the most beautiful of all the scenes in "The Nutcracker." The snowflakes and the exquisite lighting by David Grill cast a hush over the audience, with even the little ones holding their wonder close.

The second act has two pas de deux danced by Annia Hidalgo and Alexandre Ferreira and by Susan Gartell and Isaac Sharratt and both were full of the kind of flash and dash that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

"The Nutcracker" is one of the true holiday treasures in Milwaukee and it runs at the Marcus until Dec. 27 and information on tickets and showtimes is available here.