A Christmas Classic: Kittiwake Dance Theatre celebrates 30 years of The Nutcracker

After three decades of ballet, Kittiwake Dance Theatre wanted to shake up itsversion of The Nutcracker by adding live music.

For the Sunday night show the dancers will be joined by the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and members ofShallaway Youth Choir.

"It makes it a little bit more interesting," artistic director Martin Valle said.

"The great thing about it is that there is kind of a synergy that happens when music is done live with dancers. Everybody really has to pay attention to each other, really stay in the moment. That isactually a great experience for everybody."

More than 200 dancers from 17 local dance schools have been cast in the Christmas production.

They will be joined by guest stars from the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, Yuriko Diyanova and Peter Lancksweerdt.

In the second act, CBC reporter Meghan McCabe makes a special appearance.

You can see a behind the scenes look at the show in the video above.