Since being adopted by the king and queen of Starrycrest two years ago, Kara has lived a magical life, complete with doting parents and staff as well as a starring role in the Starrycrest Starlets' production of The Nutcracker. The princess is on top of the world, until big changes threaten her place in the Denison family as well as in the kingdom.

Kara's magical life quickly turns into a nightmare when she is forced to face her deepest insecurities and prepare for the biggest night of her life with a dance partner whom she does not even like. To complicate matters even more, Stella Dixon, the Starlets' new dance instructor, tells the princess about a program in Eclipston that helps orphans find their forever families. Kara loves the idea and wants to implement a similar program in Starrycrest, but others in the royal family refuse.

The tiny royal soon realizes that in order to be the princess she has always hoped to be and make Starrycrest a better kingdom, she must take matters into her own hands as her mother once did. After an encounter with Victrollia, an evil troll who hates the Denisons and wants to avenge the death of her cousin Trovella, goes terribly wrong, the princess and her loyalty to her family is put to the ultimate test. In the end, Kara will learn that living life to the fullest means you must love the way you dance.