Dance students of the Pennsylvania Classical Ballet Academy, 1716 Washington Ave., Northampton, participated in the “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” performance Dec. 13, 2022, at State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton.

Internationally renowned dancers, including those from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Japan, performed in the 30th anniversary tour.

According to the website of the tour’s producer, “In solidarity with the people of Ukraine, Talmi Entertainment announces the company’s flagship production, ‘Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker,’ will be renamed ‘Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet.’”

Akiva Talmi, founder and producer of Talmi Entertainment, explained the spirit of the decision: “Talmi Entertainment’s production has always had at its heart a message of international unity. It is more important than ever to speak out for peace and humanity with the tools we have: the international languages of dance and art and love.

“We reject the aggression against the Ukrainian people, and we will continue to use the artistic expression of this production to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to serving communities and bridging cultural divides,” Talmi said.

The youth cast from the ballet academy performed in several scenes during the two-act, two-hour performance. Student dancers included party scene: Angelina Kohl, Lexi Hauanio, Josephine Renzulli, Colette Ferriere, Stella Sams, Sylvia Hong, Alexander Hong and Benjamin Hong; snowflakes: Amelia Adams, Angelina Kohl, Lydia Sams, Sylvia Hong, Riley Kuhne and Abigail Kuhne; snow maidens and snow sprites: Kylie Reabold, Larae Lawley, Ellie Cuchran, Gianna Buscemi, Isabella Szep, Olivia Waldron, Raena Levens, Sophie Dietrich, Colette Ferriere and Angela Hodge; Spanish dance: Kyle Reabold, Ellie Cuchran, Stella Sams and Lexi Hauanio; French dance: Sylvia Hong and Angelina Kohl; Chinese dance: Josephine Renzulli, Colette Ferriere, Alexander Hong and Benjamin Hong; and Slavic dance: Larae Lawley, Olivia Waldron, Raena Levens and Ellie Cuchran.

Dana Nederostek is Pennsylvania Classical Ballet Academy’s executive and founding director, with Amber Aufiero as the artistic director and Elise Ruggiero on the production team.