MADISON (WKOW)-- As Madison Ballet prepares for another Nutcracker season, some high schoolers are changing how they study, to deal with the demanding schedule.

"I feel like it's given me a lot of maturity," Maurissa Powell said. The 16-year-old started dancing at three and has made the necessary sacrifices to make it on stage.

"It's always been my passion, so I feel I would take performing in the Nutcracker any day over going to the prom," she chuckled, but she's dead serious. Maurissa already has a tutu and that's where her head is.

"You kind of just have to train while you have the ability to, you have the youth and everything," she said.

Madison Ballet Assistant Ballet Master Rachelle Butler likes the Wisconsin Virtual Academy program that about 10% of her students use.