The Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania Youth Ballet is presenting its 57th “Nutcracker,” believed to be the longest-running production of the holiday classic ballet in the Lehigh Valley.

Music for the Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 performances in Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, will be provided by The Southside Sinfonietta, a 45-piece orchestra conducted by Darin Lewis of Lehigh University.

A choir of more than 80 students from Northampton Area Middle School, directed by Patricia Risley, and Emmaus High School, directed by Julia Wallace, will sing the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” during the ballet and will sing in the Atrium lobby before performances.

“This will be the second time that we have dancers from Houston Ballet joining us,” says Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Artistic Director Karen Knerr.

“We’ve really expanded our scope. We used to stay very close to home, Philly or New York. It’s nice to start reaching out,” Knerr says in a phone interview.

“It shows you what the professional dancers are doing all throughout the country, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for our dancers to share the stage with these professionals,” says Knerr.

The “Nutcracker” cast includes professional, pre-professional and student performers. Knerr says that more students auditioned for the production than ever, resulting in a cast of more than 100.

“We were so fortunate. We had our largest turnout in auditions in September,” says Knerr. “I think people realize what an opportunity this is for local dancers, to be performing with a live orchestra and these professional guest artists. And it’s not just one show. Seven performances is a great opportunity.”

Wardrobe mistress is Kristin Dundon.

A larger cast means more creative choreography.

There’s new choreography and costumes for the lead dancers in the Spanish variation, new choreography for the Chinese variation to include children with umbrellas, new choreography in the Party Scene to include boys and girls dancing together, new Polichinelle Clowns added to include five boys, and new enhanced backdrops for the Snow Scene.

“It prompts some wonderful changes,” says Knerr:

“The Spanish [variation] has a new lead couple, along with the two Spanish dancers. The Chinese [variation] has six lead dancers, and also six children, along with a dragon. Chinese has a real pop when the music comes on.”

Guest lead dancers are Jessica Collado (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Aaron Robison (her Cavalier). Other guest artists include Tevin Johnson (Candy Cane Lead) and Stephaen Hood (Snow King, Arabian Lead).

Jessica Collado, born in Coral Springs, Fla., joined Houston Ballet as an apprentice in 2004. Collado was named in “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2009. She was awarded “Top 10 Standout Performances in 2011” by Pointe Magazine. Collado was promoted to principal dancer with Houston Ballet in 2017.

Aaron Robinson, born in Coventry, England, began his training at La Companyia Juvenil de Barcelona with Elise Lummis before continuing at Institut del Teatre, Barcelona, and The Royal Ballet School, London. Robinson has danced with Corella Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. He danced with Houston Ballet before returning to the company as a Principal Dancer in 2005. He earned nominations in Dance Europe’s Critics’ Choice lists for Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer, and a National Dance Award nomination for Outstanding Male Classical Performance in 2018.

Tevin Johnson, a Syracuse, N.Y., native, began his dance training at age 15. He attended the Alvin Ailey Professional Division Summer Dance Intensive on a scholarship in 2013 and received a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University. He joined Roxey Contemporary Ballet Company in New Jersey. Johnson joined the faculty of the City College of Manhattan’s theater department in 2020.

Stephaen Hood studied at the Rock School for Dance Education, Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of the Arts, receiving a BFA in Classical Ballet in 2013. He performed and studied with Christopher Fleming at Ballet-Fleming. He was a member of Ohio’s Verb Contemporary Ballet for three seasons and trained with Cuban National Ballet Director Laura Alonso.

Student dancers include Charlotte Ford (Notre Dame of Bethlehem Elementary School, 8th grade) and Emilia Winmill (Nazareth Area Middle School, 7th grade), alternating as Clara; Ava Baraket (Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, senior) and Isabel Stana (Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, senior), alternating as Arabian Lead; Marley Gidusko (Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, sophomore) and Francesca Reto (Pennsylvania Leadership Academy, junior), alternating as Dew Drop, and Ava Baraket (Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, senior) and Isabel Stana (Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, senior), alternating as Snow Queen.

“My older dancers; they’re pretty exceptional dancers,” says Knerr. “I’m very proud of watching them grow up and stepping into these lead roles. It shows how much determination and focus and how much hard work they’ve put into their craft.”

Because of demand, there are four public performances.

“We are getting more audiences to come out,” Knerr says. “People are understanding the power of the arts and celebrating that as they come to the theater.

“People are getting out of their homes and away from their screen time and experiencing this energy between the orchestra and the dancers. Then, add the energy of the audience: It’s really something special,” says Knerr.

There will be 70 students from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bethlehem and Easton as guests at the public performances, sponsored by Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo law firm, Bethlehem, covering tickets and transportation costs. Free tickets are offered veterans and their families.

There are three school performances for area students at free or discounted prices.

“We hope everybody comes and enjoys the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ at Zoellner. It’s a really magical time and it helps everybody with the holiday spirit,” says Knerr.

“Nutcracker,” The Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, noon, 4 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, 420 Packer Avenue, Bethlehem. Tickets: 610-758-2787, www.zoellnerartscenter.org