Get ready for some holiday fun! Pennsylvania Classical Ballet Academy students are performing “The Nutcracker” 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Roxy Theatre, 2004 Main St., Northampton.

The academy, which is located at 1716 Washington Ave., Northampton, has about 50 dancers and 15-20 Northampton Area School District students. Students range in age from 4 to 18 and older. The majority of the students will be performing in this ballet, said Dana Nederostek, owner, artist director and teacher with the academy.

Nederostek has danced professionally with Cincinnati Ballet and Georgia Ballet. She has also guest performed with Kentucky Ballet Theatre and Northern Plains Ballet, among others. She has performed in Victoria Morgan’s “Cinderella” and other ballets. She has portrayed the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” among other roles in popular dances.

She has trained with the Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and others. Nederostek has also taught at Indiana University, Pennsylvania Youth Theatre and Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, among other schools.

Although this is not the first time PCBA students have performed at the Roxy, it is their first time performing “The Nutcracker” at this theater. Nederostek recalled the nostalgia of the Roxy, which first opened in 1921 as the Lyric Theatre.

“I was just so excited that [Richard] Wolfe (owner of the Roxy) was really excited about it and was on board with it and ready to do the live performances there again,” Nederostek said. “And there’s just something about the Roxy. There’s a sense of community there. It’s awesome to be there and perform there.”

Last year, PCBA students conducted an outdoor performance at Northampton’s bandshell, and in June of this year, students performed their summer recital at the Roxy.

“When [people] heard it was going to be at the Roxy, they said, ‘Oh my gosh - I’ll go just because it’ll be at the Roxy,’” Nederostek said. “[The Roxy] stayed so true to its origins, and it’s so awesome to have it in our community right down the street from [PCBA].”

To be in “The Nutcracker,” students had to audition. Rehearsals began in September, correlating with the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. Some students practice five days a week, and each practice can last between an hour and a half to three hours.

“And on the weekends, it can be longer,” Nederostek added. “It’s a lot. There are a lot of moving parts.”

There are two other teachers at PCBA - Elise Ruggiero and Amber Aufiero. They also have parts in “The Nutcracker.”

Other dancers include Nederostek’s three children, Alexander Hong, playing the Nutcracker; Benjamin Hong, playing a soldier and a sailor; and Sylvia Hong, playing a mouse and a sailor. Her children attend Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bethlehem.

Mia Dimmick, portraying the Snow Queen, attends Northampton Area High School.

Melissa Motsko is taking the role of the Mouse King and is also performing an Arabian dance. She is an NAHS student as well.

Fiona Daley is playing Clara and attends Nazareth Area School District. Emily Parlock is playing the Dew Drop Fairy and is a Phillipsburg High School student. Aufiero is playing the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Ruggiero is portraying Frau Drosselmeyer.

One thing Nederostek especially loves about her job is watching her students develop in the artistry of dance.

“I love watching the students grow. I have students who come to me when they’re 5 or 6 years old, and I see them blossom into these beautiful, amazing dancers. Seeing these kids grow is awesome,” Nederostek said. “I also love that I have a job with a creative outlet, that I could create art and mold these dancers into strong, talented ballerinas.”

“The magic of being on stage and telling the story of the Nutcracker” is what Nederostek believes her students will enjoy the most about the performances.

“I think it’s just a magical experience when you’re on stage,” she said.

She added her dancers are also looking forward to showcasing all their hard work and commitment.

“They worked so hard - all these hours, all these weeks putting this together,” Nederostek said.

For more information on PCBA and to purchase tickets, visit paclassicalballetacademy.com.