Each holiday season for the past 10 years, islanders have viewed the Whidbey Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker” ballet as a cherished tradition not to be missed.

But while “The Nutcracker,” a work of classical and character ballet genres, attracts a wide audience to WDT’s annual performances, it is only one element of the troupe’s dance palette.

Another aspect will be visible in WDT’s annual spring Choreography Showcase which will premiere an all new 2003 program at the South Whidbey High School auditorium next weekend.

“Not all our dancers are strictly classical ballet dancers,” said artistic director Susan Sandri, who assumes the post from which Charlene Brown retired last year.

The production features a wider offering of dance forms and showcases the work of both professional and emerging choreographers, including several who are recognized regionally and nationally.

Among them are Los Angeles choreographer Scott Heinzerling, whose work, “selves,” recalls his memories of his mother, grandmothers, and other female ancestors and is set to a music collage from Kronos’ Ancient Music recording. This modern dance will be performed by Katelyn Candelario in the solo, joined by Andrea Burr and Alexis Daly in the trio sections. Kira Hubbard, Katie Riggs, Chelsea Matthews, Zoie Tingstad and Kate Yates complete the cast.

Sandri’s “Faith” deals with “despair and deliverance,” Sandri said. A pas de deux by Katelyn Candelario and Carl Massey will begin this contemporary ballet, followed by a duet by Massey and Katie Riggs. Four spirit guides are portrayed by Alexis Daly, Kate Yates, Kira Hubbard and Chelsea Matthews. The choral score is edited from Chorus Angelicus’ “Untraveled Worlds” recording. The music is multinational and sacred; sample sections are from a 15th century French mass, a South African Shona mass, and from Russian Orthodox Liturgy.

The ballet is cast with eight dancers, six en pointe. This work was selected by a Regional Dance America adjudicator for inclusion in the 2003 Regional Dance America Pacific Festival in May.

Also chosen for presentation at the RDA Pacific Festival is “Controlled… Turmoil,” the debut work by emerging choreographer Jamee Brown, 18, of South Whidbey High School. The high energy multi-genre dance — jazz, hip hip and modern — is set to a score from the motion picture “The Matrix.” All nine members of WDT’s full company and three apprentice dancers will perform the piece. Brown also designed the costumes, masks and lighting for the work.

Asharaine Machala will be back as a guest choreographer for the show. She created a contemporary work to Stravinsky’s “Symphony in C,” which is also the title of the dance. Eight dancers in hand-painted costumes by MaryEllen O’Connor and Collette Riggs perform this work.

Assistant Artistic Director Philip Laue has restaged “Jewish Lovers,” a lively character pas de deux by Russian ballerina Vera Altunina, for the WDT showcase. The piece will be danced by Laue with Katelyn Candelario on Friday and with Alexis Daly on Saturday.

“Hints” by Seattle choreographer Rachealle Walsh combines modern dance and jazz technique and adds Thai, Hindi, and martial arts overtones. Set to “Song of Life” by Left Field, the work is described as addressing “life’s ventures between struggle and the mundane.”

Award winning Puget Sound area choreographer Wendy Johnson-Casper has revived her character ballet, “Hoedown,” for WDT’s Apprentice and Junior dancers plus Brittany Falso, the youngest full company member. The ballet is set to a section of Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo.”

WDT’s resident choreographer Susan Vanderwood has two pieces on the program. Guest dancers Carl Massey, Jamee Brown and Savannah Warnett join WDT dancers Andrea Burr, Brittany Falso, Zoie Tingstad, Michela Mattens and Josette Serrill in “My Vietnam” by Pink.

In a guest performance, Vanderwood’s junior competition jazz team from Island Dance will also perform in the showcase. These dancers, ages 7-13, won a High Silver Trophy at the Company Dance Competition in Tacoma earlier this month. Their dance is titled after its music by the Bahia Men, “Can You Move It Like This?”

Finally, professional tap dancer Carl Massey of Portland’s Hot Shot Tappers has choreographed the show’s tap closer, “Come Together to have Fun.” Massey will dance with WDT’s Zoie Tingstad and Josette Serrill, and guest dancers Devon Matthews, Ryan Imbery, Tasha Plumberg and Savannah Warnett. The piece won a Gold Trophy at the Company Dance Competition.