SALISBURY — The Salisbury Community Nutcracker ballet brings together young people from multiple age groups to create an entertaining night for attending family and lasting memories for the performers.

The classic Christmastime performance will be held in the auditorium at Salisbury High School tonight and Saturday.

All week long, several of the student performers have been rehearsing for the big night.

Jamal Rule, who is likely best known around Salisbury High School for his prowess on the gridiron, will be playing the Nutcracker.

“This is my first time doing anything like this,” Rule said. “I was wanting to try something new. Ms. Krystal (Stukes) said she needed my help with it and I am a helpful person so I said I would do it.”

Rule is looking forward to a different kind of spotlight and being a part of bringing the classic show to life this year.

“I am up there with my friends and all the people I care about, so I feel like I am going to have fun doing all of this,” Rule said.

He also expects some football teammates to be in the audience.

“Some of my friends said they were going to be here,” Rule said. “They said they were probably going to laugh the whole time, which is cool.”

While Rule will be playing the eponymous Nutcracker, senior Shamaya Evans will be starring as Clara. Despite taking on such a large role, Evans indicated that she is not nervous.

“I do better under pressure,” she said. “I have been motivating myself, practicing my acting and my improvising and making sure the show stays entertaining to all viewers of all ages.”

The show comprises performers from a massive age range, which means for Evans and the older students, they have to learn their parts and help instruct the younger ones.

“We have tiny little babies from the age of two to the age of 18,” Evans said. “We just try to inspire them and be their role models so that they can look up to us.”

It’s a role that Evans embraces.

“We show them ballet steps, making sure they feel included and not doubting them because you can do anything when you put your mind to it,” Evans said.

The performance represents the culmination of months of preparation.

“I have been preparing over the past few months,” senior Karmen Torrence said. “Preparing and practicing and getting my mind ready.”

At a younger age, dancing in front of a lot of people was challenging, but with experience comes confidence. It also helps being on stage with friends.

“We motivate each other,” Torrence said. “We feed back off each other.”

Salisbury Drum Major Austin Massaquoi will be putting years of experience to work this weekend, too. In addition to being the Snow Prince, he’ll be performing musical selections throughout the evening.

On Wednesday, Massaquoi was talking up his Snow Prince costume.

“It’s basically all white,” he said. “We are supposed to look like heavenly snow — white slacks, white shirt and white jazz shoes.”

He’s not shying away from the attention though.

“I feel like I have gotten used to being in the spotlight and being in front of a lot of people since I became drum major,” he said. “That’s something I am used to. I am used to being in front of a crowd.”

Joining in the musical contributions during the show will be trombonist Nevahiyonna Clemmons.

Clemmons started playing trombone when she was 12.

“I was bad at it at first, but I just kept practicing,” she said.

Now she will be putting those chops to the test performing multiple songs throughout the evening.

“The best part is playing the music for the kids and watching them dance,” she said.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday. It is sponsored by the Salisbury-Rowan Community Foundation, Triple Threat Dance and Charm, Salisbury High School and the Rowan Arts Council.

Salisbury High School is located at 500 Lincolnton Road, Salisbury.