The Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley’s 55th presentation of “Nutcracker,” Dec. 16 and 17, Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, is a co-production of Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Zoellner Arts Center and the Lehigh University Music Department.

The dancers will be accompanied by a 45-piece orchestra, The Southside Sinfonietta, conducted by Lehigh University faculty member, Darin Lewis.

An 80-student choir from Northampton Area Middle School, under the direction of Patricia Risley, will sing during “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” and perform songs in the Zoellner Atrium prior to performances.

Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley Karen Kroninger Knerr says a fourth public performance is added this year.

“We’ve been so supported by the audience that we were almost selling out the three public shows due to an overwhelming response,“ says Knerr in a phone interview.

Knerr, who choreographed the “Nutcracker,” is excited to present this year’s guest artists, Seo Hye Han, as Sugar Plum Fairy, and John Lam, as the Cavalier.

“We’re very excited about our professional guest artists from Boston Ballet,” Knerr says.

Knerr contacts guest artists months in advance to request their participation in “Nutcracker.” “Because they are professional dancers working with top companies, they have to be released from their company to come and perform with us,” says Knerr.

Guest artists, Stephaen Hood, as Snow King-Arabian Lead, and Tevin Johnson, as Candy Cane Lead-Harlequin, have previously performed in BGLV’s “Nutcracker.”

“They have both danced with us and are returning,” says Knerr. “Tevin [Johnson] brings down the house when he performs the Candy Cane.”

The production has more than 100 professional, pre-professional and student performers ranging in age from 6 to 18.

“I’m very proud of all their hard work.” Knerr says.

“Part of the new choreography in the ‘Waltz of the Snowflakes’ is due to [the fact that] Clara’s getting a new ‘ride’ this year,” says Knerr.

“We have a beautiful sleigh, which seems only appropriate to bring in during the snow scene, for a Snow Queen. We’re really looking forward to that.”

There are new costumes; ball gowns for the Party Scene and mice costumes for the Battle Scene, created by Kristin Dundon, wardrobe designer.

“One of my favorite [scenes] is the transition from the Living Room to the Battle Scene,” says Knerr. “Between the music and the whole scene that’s happening in front of you, I love how we go from that empty stage with the little girl sleeping on the sofa and then she wakes up and her whole world is different.”

Seo Hye Han joined Boston Ballet in 2012 as a soloist and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2016. She received the silver medal in 2004 at Bulgaria’s Varna International Ballet Competition, a scholarship to Vaganova Ballet Academy in the 2005 Prix de Lausanne, a silver medal in the 2008 Varna International Ballet Competition, a silver medal in the 2008 Seoul International Dance Competition, the Joffrey Prize in the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition, and the Gold Medal in the 2012 Boston International Ballet Competition.

John Lam joined Boston Ballet II in 2003, was promoted to soloist in 2008, and was named Principal Dancer in 2014. Lam was a finalist in the Seoul International Ballet Competition and the only American male semi-finalist at the 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition.

Lam received the prestigious Princess Grace Award, which recognizes and supports emerging talent. Lam was featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe and The London Times.

Lam has choreographed and produced several dances on film, including “Dance Is,” “Movement in Structure,” “SHE/I,” “Close,” “The Air Before Me,” “Quiet Beauty” and “movingARTS.”

Tevin Johnson, a Syracuse, N.Y. native, began his dance training at the age of 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. In 2020, Johnson became a faculty member of the City College of Manhattan’s theater department. His awards include the Jenni-Lynn Watson Scholarship, Cento Amici Scholarship and the 2014 National NAACP ACT-SO Gold Medal for Dance.

Stephaen Hood studied at the Rock School for Dance Education, Philadelphia, with a full scholarship. In 2013, he graduated from the University of the Arts, receiving a B.F.A. in Classical Ballet. Upon graduation, he performed and studied with Christopher Fleming at Ballet-Fleming.

Hood was a member of Ohio’s Verb Contemporary Ballet and trained with Cuban National Ballet Director Laura Alonso. Hood is a freelance artist, and a guest artist at ballet companies in the U.S.

Student dancers include Penelope Blomfield (Clara), ninth grade, Moravian Academy; Aubrey Cressman (Clara), eighth grade, Southern Lehigh Middle School; Linnea Crouch (Arabian Lead), 11th grade, Moravian Academy; Finola Hieter (Arabian Lead), 11th grade, Southern Lehigh High School; Gwendolyn George (Dew Drop), 12th grade, Lehigh Carbon Community College High School Scholar; Anna Yorgey (Dew Drop), 12th grade, Parkland High School, and Ella Ebert (Snow Queen), freshman, Boston University.

“All those students have earned these roles,” says Knerr. “Expect to be on the edge of your seat. I’ve seen the youngest of children enthralled with what’s happening in front of them.

“There’s just nothing like live theater, live ballet, the musicians, and the energy in the room. It’s so different than sitting in front of a screen. Any first-timer, no matter what their age, will really be transported,” Knerr says.

In addition to the four public performances, there will be three performances for area students. Nearly 3,000 students will see the production free or at reduced ticket prices.

More than 200 students from the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton and Communities in Schools will be guests at the public performances, provided by sponsor Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo, funding the cost of tickets and transportation.

“To all who have contributed and experienced this enchanting ballet with us, thank you for being part of the legacy that continues to dance its way into the hearts of generations,” says Knerr.

“Nutcracker,” Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16; 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. Dec. 17, Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, 420 Packer Avenue Bethlehem. Tickets: https://zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu/ ; 610-758-2787