Not unlike a child on tiptoes taking a peak in wide-eyed wonderment at Santa’s toys, Christmastime performances of the beloved classic, “Nutcracker,” get ballet dancers en pointe.

If you haven’t seen the “Nutcracker” on stage, there are again several opportunities, including the Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley’s 50th anniversary performance (for that preview, see the Dec. 12 and 13 Focus section).

See the previews here of Repertory Dance Theatre’s 32nd annual “Nutcracker” at Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown, and Moscow Ballet’s 25th annual “The Great Nutcracker” at the State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton.