Berks Ballet Theatre opens its 45th season on Dec. 19 with a new take on its annual production of “The Nutcracker Suite.”

The company is adopting what ballet companies across the country are doing and entering the world of digital performances. In these unprecedented times, where performing arts organizations cannot host live productions with a full house, directors and choreographers are forced to come up with safe alternatives to keep the arts alive.

This winter season, due to COVID-19, BBT is unable to continue the tradition of three live performances of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” with its cast of 75 dancers and a live orchestra. Instead, BBT has taken this full length ballet and pared it down to a shortened version which will be broadcast virtually, to still give its dancers the opportunity to perform and to bring the ballet to the community and beyond.

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