She is his bright, young protege from Bella Vista, about to star in his latest interpretation of one of the most loved ballets.

Graeme Murphy's quintessentially Australian adaptation of Nutcracker will make a long-awaited return to the stage at the Sydney Opera House.

Starring in the lead role of Clara is Kayla-Maree Tarantolo, 10, a year 5 pupil at St Michael's Primary School at Baulkham Hills.

Kayla-Maree's dance teacher, Rebecca Davies from RGDANCE at Chiswick, said there was no limit to the young dancer's potential.

``She has great physical facility, incredible maturity and an innate understanding of the affect she has as a performer on the audience.''

Her mother Francesca had the same vision for her daughter after she began prancing around the house on her toes at the age of two.

``She never walked on her flat feet,'' said Mrs Tarantolo, a former gymnast. ``I thought: `this girl is going to be a ballerina'.''

Murphy's interpretation of Nutcracker is set in Melbourne in the late 1950s. Clara is not a child but a frail former ballerina, reliving life through her dreams. For Kayla-Maree, who also studies jazz, tap, modern and contemporary dance, acrobatics and musical theatre, it's the first of many big stage performances she's set her sights set on.

``I'm a little bit nervous but really excited. I love dancing and being on stage,'' she said.

Kayla-Maree has a practise partner in her younger sister, Olivia-Rose, 6.

``We practise all the time at home. If she gets the steps wrong, I tell her to do it again.''

Nutcracker - The Story of Clara opens at Sydney Opera House on April 28 - May 18. Tickets: australianballet.com.au or call 1300369741.