"Nut/Cracked" turns the traditional Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" on its heels.

The post-modern exploration of decades of dance history offers an alternative dance performance for the holidays.

"Nut/Cracked," 8 p.m. Dec. 11, Musikfest Café, ArtsQuest, SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, features 13 dancers from the New York City based dance company The Bang Group and 19 dancers from the Muhlenberg College dance department and Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts.

"Nut/Cracked" ran in New York City for eight years and in Boston for three years. It has been presented at SteelStacks since the arts center's opening in 2011.

Jeffrey Kazin, a founder of The Bang Group, which originated, choreographs and produces "Nut/Cracked," explains:

"The idea for 'Nut/Cracked' came from a duet The Bang Group was performing called 'Suck,' where two men performed a sort of a grand pas de deux. We thought, 'Why not create a new 'Nutcracker' made up of just the 'divertissements,' the grand fantasy dance scenes?"

Twenty-two dance segments defined by different styles and eras of dance are performed in "Nut/Cracked," from the classical "Nutcracker" music of Tchaikovsky, to the Big Band music of Glenn Miller, accompanied by dance styles from ballet to tap to disco.

"It's an exploration of time and rhythm in a dramatic way," says Kazin in a phone interview. "It's a chance to show both the emotional and musical sides of dance.

"We get to do so many different kinds of dancing. It's a dancer's dream. Each segment fulfills a different side of my fantasy as a dancer."

The Bang Group aims to make dance, and "Nut/Cracked," in particular, accessible.

"It really is for everyone. No one should be intimidated. It is dance. It is accessible. It is humorous."

"Nut/Cracked," now in its 12th season, shows no signs of stopping.

"We will do this as long as people want us to," says Kazin, "and so far we don't see an end in sight."