TAMPA — When Next Generation Ballet's Nutcracker opens later this month, Isabella Archer will be one of the dancers playing "Clara," a lead role. It's a part her sister, Virginia, also danced five years ago.

"It's fun because she knows the role, so I can talk to her about it," said Isabella, 15.

"It's definitely crazy," said Virginia, 18. "Five years later, I get to see my little sister perform the same role I did. Honestly, I feel she does it better than I did."

Both sisters began dancing at a young age. Isabella said she started when she was around two years old, training seriously in ballet five years later. For Virginia, ballet became a passion around age 9 after watching her mother teach classes since she was three years old.

"I believe ballet demonstrates a certain kind of strength," said Virginia. "It's a beautiful way to tell stories, and you use old time classics. I think it's a beautiful way to show the audience a new and different movement that you don't get to see often."

Isabella calls the part of Clara a "dream role."

"It's a fun type of pressure," she said. "I guess it's more of a responsibility, but it's exciting."

"The Archer sisters are supremely talented. In this line of work, usually teachers and directors can recognize that level of talent at a very young age. I remember when Virginia came to us when she was just about 12 years old and took an audition class, and my eyes got very big. I just walked into the room and I thought, 'Wow - that girl's got a tremendous amount of potential,'" said Next Generation Ballet Artistic Director Philip Neal. "Her sister, Isabella, was just this tiny, little thing, and now she's blossoming and developing, and just extremely advanced for her age."

Virginia Archer performs in Nutcracker

Virginia was accepted to Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Italy, where she plans to study ballet. 

"When I was accepted, I was honestly in shock. My mind was blown. It's one of the top companies in Europe," Virginia said. 

She's currently waiting for her visa to come through, but still being in the U.S. means she's able to see her sister perform in Nutcracker. Isabella said, like Virginia, she'd like to continue with ballet once her time with Next Generation comes to an end, and even pursue it professionally.

"I'm definitely, hopefully, on my way there," Isabella said.

Next Generation Ballet's Nutcracker will be performed at the Straz Center December 17-19. Tickets can be purchased by calling (813) 229-STAR (7827) or 800-955-1045 outside Tampa Bay. They're also available at the Straz box office or online.