Several dancers from Concord will join Ballet Misha’s cast of 130 as they take the stage for Ballet Misha’s 15th-anniversary production of “The Nutcracker,” which will be performed as part of the Dana Center for Arts and Humanities season at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Even though Ballet Misha and its affiliate school Dimensions in Dance are based in Manchester, the dancers travel from all over the state and from Massachusetts to train at Dimensions in Dance and be a part of this production.

Ballet Misha Director Amy Fortier has lived in Concord for almost twenty years and says it brings her great joy to have local children in the production.

“I love seeing my students in the morning on the walk to school, and then at the studio later in the day,” says Fortier. “It warms my heart to have people from our community involved in this production.”

One of these children is Julia Gary, a second-grader at Christa McAuliffe school, who will dance the roles of a little soldier in the battle scene and peacock in the Arabian Coffee dance. She says she loves how many children get to be a part of the Nutcracker.

“I’ve been really excited that my Concord friends are in it with me,” says Gary. “I feel excited and a little nervous, but I’m proud of my hard work.”

Amelia Jones, 10, and Alice Jones, 7, will be dancing roles of little soldier and baby doll, and are also CMS students preparing for the battle scene.

“They do a great job teaching us how to remember the steps with the music,” says Alice Jones, explaining that she can hear the choreographer’s voice singing the steps in her mind.

Amelia Jones adds, “I love the ability to become someone I’m not. In my case, I become a soldier, fighting mice and protecting baby dolls. It’s amazing! I let go of everything when I’m dancing.”

One of the mice she is fighting is Alexander Degnan, 9, a third-grader at CMS. Alexander will dance the roles of Baby Mouse, Party Boy and Gingerbread Cookie.

“I love battle scenes because there is so much going on, and I get to carry out the treasure chest of cheese,” says Degnan. “I love Gingerbread too because we get to come out from under the big skirt and the boys are naughty.”

Evelyn Degnan, 11, a sixth grader at Rundlett Middle School will dance roles of Party Girl and Dragonfly in Waltz of the Flowers.

“I love being a dragonfly because we get to dance next to the professional company dancers. They are so beautiful to watch, so inspiring,” explains Degnan.

Also in Waltz of the Flowers is Concord High School sophomore Kaelyn Schmidt, who is a member of Ballet Misha’s apprentice company and spends over fifteen hours a week at Dimensions in Dance training and rehearsing. Professional Ballerina Kelly Diamond of Concord will dance the Coffee Pas de Deux this year.

Ballet Misha is especially excited for this year’s production as it marks the dance company’s fifteenth anniversary.

“I wanted our anniversary production of ‘The Nutcracker’ to sparkle even more than usual,” explains Ballet Misha Director Amy Fortier. “We have attached thousands of aurora borealis crystal stones to our costumes for some celebratory bling.”

Ballet Misha has also incorporated several ‘easter eggs’ in the production in honor of fifteen years, which will be fun for the audience to spot.

“ ‘The Nutcracker’ is such a visual feast anyway that I thought it would be fun to sneak in some different references to our 15th anniversary, almost like a look and find,” says Fortier.

In the past 15 years, the cast has doubled in size, and now boasts over 130 dancers. With five sets, and hundreds of costumes, wigs, and props, Ballet Misha’s Nutcracker is one of the largest and most elaborate in the state.

First performed in 1892 in Imperial Russia, “The Nutcracker” was not considered a success. It was not until George Balanchine restaged the ballet on New York City Ballet in 1954 that it became so popular, that it is now the best-known and most-seen ballet of all time.

“Initially this ballet was criticized for featuring a child dancer instead of an established principal ballerina in the lead role. Yet, I think the reason The Nutcracker is so magical for children is because they see other children on stage. There is no other professional ballet where the most important role is danced by a young girl,” said Fortier. “Getting to work with so many wonderful children over the past fifteen years has been such an incredible gift.”

Tickets are available at balletmisha.com and the Dana Center Box Office.