A 40-year Christmas classic will be played on screens instead of being performed on stage this year.

The classic story of "The Nutcracker" features a little girl who has a magically wild dream -- a welcome break from reality following a year where COVID-19 took center stage.

The special joint performance will be brought to viewers by the Coupe Theatre studio and Rockland Youth Dance ensemble.

Olivia Grace Quesada, who plays Clara, is excited for the performance, saying in part, “This is a very exciting performance because it's a movie and it’s super different than all the times we did it.”

The Mouse King actor John Carlos Lefkowitz says this ensemble will feature more ballet.

"They make a 'Nutcracker' movie every couple of years and there's barely any respect for the actual ballet of 'The Nutcracker,'” says Lefkowitz. “I was really, really excited to hear we were going to be filming what is a movie but is purely told through ballet.”

The filming will wrap up Thanksgiving weekend and the film will be released on Vimeo sometime between Christmas and the new year. 

To keep an eye out for the release, check the Rockland Youth Dance ensemble website.