For ballet dancers, the Christmas season doesn't begin with the first snowfall or the frantic shopping of Black Friday. It starts each year when rehearsals begin for Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."

For two Haverhill ballerinas, this holiday season is a dream come true because they landed two of the ballet's most iconic roles in this year's Methuen Ballet Ensemble production.

Erin Reid, 16, a junior at Haverhill High, will play Clara; Ashley Shaheen, 19, a student at Merrimack College, will play the Sugar Plum Fairy in the company's three performances the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Methuen Ballet Ensemble takes the stage Saturday, Nov. 28, at 3 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 29, at 3 p.m. at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport's Market Square.

Reid's character, Clara, is the nightgown-clad young woman who ties the whole story together. The Sugar Plum Fairy is the sovereign of all the sweets, the lead of all the characters Clara encounters in her dream world.

The women, with about 65 other dancers of all ages, have been rehearsing since the beginning of September. After hours of rehearsals, their pointe shoes rapping across the wooden floor and their legs lifted over and over again into arabasques and attitudes, Reid and Shaheen are undoubtedly a little sore, but they are excited for the curtains to open on performance weekend.

"As a dancer, without the Nutcracker it's like not having Christmas," Shaheen said. "It brings in the season."

Although both dancers have years of experience and countless performances under their belts — or, rather, tutus — the thrill of putting on a show hasn't grown old for them.

"I feel comfortable doing it," Reid said. "I'm always a little nervous at first, but once I'm on stage I'm fine."

"I'm always excited," said Shaheen of performing. "About three minutes before I go on I'm so nervous, but then there's a big adrenalin rush. Once you get out there and you hear your music, everything falls into place."

Shaheen has had many parts in "The Nutcracker" in her years in dance. She was a bunny, a solider, a Spanish dancer, an angel, the snow queen and many other roles in past performances. This season, she said, "I feel like a princess. I can't wait to wear the costume. It's definitely like a dream. It feels great after all these years of putting in the work."

Reid also started as a bunny, and has also performed as the marzipan and the lead hoop. After 12 years of dancing, landing the role of Clara is a great feeling. It's the role she has always dreamed of having.

"It's good to be her," she said. "You feel accomplished when you've worked your way up to being a lead."

Both ballerinas started dancing because of their mothers. Reid wanted to follow in her mom's footsteps in ballet. Shaheen was born to a dance teacher.

"I've been dancing ever since I could walk," Shaheen said. "Well, I guess ever since I was in the womb."

For tickets or more information, contact the Firehouse Center for the Arts Box Office at 978-462-7336 or online at www.firehouse.org. Tickets are $20 and seating is reserved.