A Day in the Life of the Sugar Plum Fairy in San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker

During intermission, dancers can go on stage and practice before the next act begins.

Dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy isn't quite as sweet as the name may imply. On stage for a total of a little under 20 minutes, the role is certainly challenging, said Stahl.

"You're jumping and turning, and you're on stage for some good chunks but you're also on and off a lot, but it's very full-out dancing, and all over the stage. It's definitely the role that most of us think as 'the stamina' part."