For mother and daughter Adelphia Lyles and Laila Roland, that circle is almost complete. Lyles grew up performing in The Nutcracker in the early 1990s and vividly remembers the joy of the holiday rehearsals and the thrill of stepping onto the Whiting Auditorium stage. Decades later, she has watched her daughter, Laila, experience the same magic.

“It has meant everything to share this experience with Laila,” Adelphia said. “It brings me a great sense of pride and joy to introduce the love of dance and performance to my daughter. It’s truly special to witness her growth as a dancer, and as a person.”

As Laila prepares to graduate from high school and FSPA in the coming year, this 50th anniversary production is especially poignant for Adelphia. “Watching this part of her journey end is a time I’m dreading not only for her, but for myself as a mom and dancer,” she admitted. “I know firsthand how it feels to not step on that stage, in those same costumes, doing the exact same choreography, using the same props, making the same friends, wowing the same crowds. But I’m honored to witness her growth, determination, and evolution as a dancer, and young lady.”
For Laila, following in her mother’s footsteps has been both exciting and grounding. “I really feel proud to share this experience with my mom,” she said. “She would teach me choreography, help me learn and identify cues in the music, and give a real-life experience with The Nutcracker.”

Between her mom’s help overcoming nerves and the professional experiences she’s had through Flint Youth Ballet and Nutcracker performances, Laila said she feels prepared to chase her dreams. “I absolutely plan to continue dancing after graduation,” she said. “Because of the inspiration, education and encouragement from FSPA staff and my mom, I proudly plan to make dance one of my courses of study when I go to college. And I hope to return as a principal dancer.”

As Laila pursues her dancing dreams beyond the stage of Whiting Auditorium, Adelphia is certain The Nutcracker will continue to be part of the family’s tradition. “We love the show, and it has become a tradition and staple that begins our holiday season,” she said.

This sense of continuity is what makes Flint’s Nutcracker unique. It isn’t just a performance; it’s a tradition woven across generations. This is true for Adelphia and Laila and so many other families over the last five decades. Together, their stories reflect the heart of The Nutcracker holiday tradition in Flint: an inheritance passed from one generation to the next, weaving family memories into a legacy that grows stronger with every performance.