Ballet and Tchaikovsky’s compositions might not be the most exciting things in this world, so a local dance instructor decided to mix the traditional Nutcracker storyline by incorporating tap, gypsy flamenco and hip-hop dancers, as well as a poet and live musicians.

This year will mark the 10th anniversary for “The Nut Tapper,” Reginald McLaughlin’s take on the classic. He took the ballet and made it into a multicultural performance with a crew ranging from 8 to 92 years old.

Coming up with the choreography was simple for him since he has been a tap dancer for more than 20 years, as well as an educator, instructor and choreographer. He said he tries to make the show different every year by bringing different guests in.

This year, singers Doris Humphrey, 83, and Mario Mazzetti will be performing with the production.

It takes more than 100 dancers, musicians and performers to run the show, McLaughlin said.

“I try to have a variety of things that go on in the show to keep people wondering what’s next,” he said. “I like the diversity that connects to all the cultures.”

Since he teaches tap dancing classes, he recruits the advanced students for the show. The rest are guest performers. Having his students participate makes the rehearsal less intense because most have been doing it for years. When the time comes for the show, everyone already knows what they’re doing, he said.

The costumes in McLaughlin’s shows have a ’20s style to them, with women donned in colorful flapper dresses and men dressed in zoot suits and top hats.

One flamenco performer has her dresses made in Spain for the show. Michelle Nascimento has performed her flamenco dance with the Nutcracker character every year since the show began in 1998. She also brings along a group of 10 girls who perform a flamenco routine.

She said the show gets bigger every year because of the different performers and dancers who are incorporated each time.

“I like every little part,” Nascimento said. “I show an audience what both my students and I work on and practice. “

Andrea Cordts, a Columbia marketing communications alumna, has been tap dancing since she was 2 years old. In college, she took a master tap dance class with McLaughlin. Years after the dance class was over, he was a guest speaker for one of her public relations classes at Columbia.

She said McLaughlin remembered her and asked if she wanted to participate in “The Nut Tapper.” She had been a backup dancer in the show for the last four years up until this year. McLaughlin assigned her the role of Clara, one of the leading characters in the performance.

“I have been in a lot of shows before, and I’m out there doing my dance and it’s not exciting,” Cordts said. “With ‘The Nut Tapper,’ it’s a professional show, but it’s so much fun. I’m dancing as best as I can and having a great time with it.”

McLaughlin said he never thought his idea to incorporate a multicultural twist on a traditional play would last 10 years and be accepted by an audience.

“It’s like doing a painting,” said Nascimento. “It starts with one stroke, and in the end you have a complete piece of art. Performing for an audience, you can see how they like it.”

“The Nut Tapper” will be performed on Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit TapDanceMan.com.