Broadway performances and the Radio City Rockettes have been a mainstay in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but for the first time in over 10 years, the Macy's Parade will broadcast a performance from the New York City Ballet. Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder will be performing the Sugar Plum Fairy number from "The Nutcracker." On Stage host Frank DiLella sat down with Bouder to get her thoughts on this unique experience in a very unique year. Here is an edited portion of their interview.

Frank DiLella: You've done "The Nutcracker" quite a lot over the course of your years as a dancer. How many times do you think you've performed "The Nutcracker"?  

Ashley Bouder: I would estimate this in the thousands by now.  

FD: Wow. How does it feel now for 2020 to be performing a portion of "The Nutcracker" for one day?

AB: In a way I feel sad because I don't get another chance. I don't get to, to keep doing it. I don't get to do the whole thing, but it's still, you know, it feels good that I can do just any part of it and to be, you know, that kind of role, of the Sugar Plum Fairy, for the people who are watching, just feels wonderful. And it's, it's giving me something to look forward to. It's making me happy. It's completing this part of me that has been missing.  

FD: Talk to me about finding out that Macy's wanted you to perform in the parade this year.  

AB: Oh my gosh. This was just, it was so exciting, and I felt so joyful and happy that I wanted to just call all of my friends and tell them. The parade is something that I've grown up watching. I don't ever remember a year where I didn't have the TV on watching it. And each year, you know, we go, we stand on 72nd treet and my daughter's on my husband's shoulders and we're watching the parade over people. And I think it's just, it's one of the most wonderful traditions that we have. It's so magical and such a good reminder of the things that we all love and hold dear.

To catch Ashley in action, be sure to tune into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday at 9 a.m. George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" will be streaming on Marquee TV from December 11 to January 3. For information, head to nycballet.com.