Urban Nutcracker performers include (l-r) Kseniya Melyukhina, Hope Williams, Isis Pichardo, Kyre Ambrose, Echo Kirke-Sofer, Ella Moye-Gibbons, Guenevir Pichardo, and tap star Khalid Hill. The six children are all from Dorchester. Photo by Karen Melkonian

The pressure is on for young Kyre Ambrose, age 9 of Dorchester, who is dancing the role of Omar in the 14th annual Urban Nutcracker this year. Ambrose, in the Omar role, is responsible for breaking the nutcracker during the party scene, a critical element in the nutcracker narrative. “I am most nervous about breaking the nutcracker on cue,” because, he explains, “it is important to tell a really good story for the audience.”

You can see for yourself how he does at the show, opening December 12th at John Hancock Hall in Boston. Ambrose is one of six Dorchester youth dancing in this year’s performance. He is most excited to dance Krump in the opening face-off street scene with Russell Ferguson, winner of season 7 “So You Think You Can Dance.” He and Ferguson’s “gang” of dancers will be facing off against New York-based tap star Khalid Hill and his dancers. Among those will be Ambrose’s sister Hope Williams, age 7. While she is dancing several roles and enjoys them all, Williams is relishing the chance to tap, saying “I see myself as a tapper.”

Ella Moye-Gibbons is joining Ambrose and Williams in the Krump versus Tap show stopper.

"I like all the diversity – of people and of dance,” said Moye-Gibbons, but she admits she loves the classical ballet that is featured throughout. “When I see the professional dancers, it inspires me to work harder in class."

She has studied ballet for four years at the JP-based Tony Williams Dance Center, the studio behind the Urban Nutcracker. Tony Williams, originally from Roxbury, danced internationally before opening his studio which combines high teaching standards with a nurturing environment for dancers of all backgrounds and body types. He is particularly proud of his efforts to create professional dance opportunities for dancers of color, who are rarely seen in professional companies even today.

The professionals and children have been rehearsing since September, a mixture of hard work and “star sightings.” Echo Kirke-Sofer, a 7 year-old dancer from Dorchester tells of a recent rehearsal.

“I was really excited when I got to see the sugar plum fairy,” said Kirke-Sofer.

This year, the role of Sugar Plum is danced by Kseniya Melyukhina, a native of Russia who contributes to the Krump-Tap opener in her own way. In a nod to Boston, Tony Williams tweaked the classic scene of the transition to the Land of Sweets by setting it in the Boston Common, with the State House in the background and personal escort by the mallard ducklings. After the ducklings fly away snow begins to fall in the Boston Common, making it clear why the Urban Nutcracker has been called Boston’s Nutcracker.

The show runs December 12-28. Tickets can be purchased at the Back Bay Events Center ticket office or discounted online through the mayorsholiday.com. A special autism friendly performance will be offered on December 20 at 11 a.m.