Who's afraid of Tchaikovsky?

Call me Ebenezer Scrooge, but I'm not overly fond of most holiday traditions, especially the ones that infest our performance spaces in December. One stage production of Dickens's A Christmas Carol is more than enough for me, let alone the half dozen that spring up annually like persistent fungus. I'm even - gasp - getting weary of David Sedaris's Santaland Diaries. And as for that highbrow Christmas classic, The Nutcracker ... every time I hear the score, I yearn to grab a bb gun and bag me some sugar plum fairies.

Dancer Jeffrey Kazin, a founding member of The Bang Group, must have sensed my distinct lack of seasonally appropriate goodwill toward man during a phone interview last week, because one of the first things he said was, "I highly recommend this show to anyone who is sick and tired of The Nutcracker." He refers to The Bang Group's Nut/Cracked, a fractured take on Tchaikovsky's holiday ballet, making a second appearance this weekend at Theatre Offensive's Out on the Edge Festival of Queer Theater.

After allaying some of my anxieties, Kazin raised a whole host of new fears by describing Nut/Cracked as a "neo-classical-subversive-post-modern-vaudeville." Before I could make the shameful confession that my meager store of dance knowledge comes mostly from watching Gene Kelly movies, he assured me that the show is accessible and enjoyable.

"It's not something to be afraid of," he chuckled. "If you think modern dance is people throwing themselves at a wall reciting Gertrude Stein, don't worry."

Kazin's enthusiasm for dance must have been contagious, because I suddenly found myself wondering about the choreographic potential of Stein's use of rhythmic language in Three Lives. But then, finding fun new possibilities in a classic is what Nut/Cracked is all about; and Kazin ought to be enthusiastic about a piece he's loved performing for 15 years.

The seed of the show came from a pas de deux first performed in 1993 by Kazin and David Parker, the Bang Group's famed choreographer. The piece was a popular staple of the Group's repertoire, and a perceptive producer suggested that Parker build a show around it. Parker threw out the Nutcracker narrative and created a collection of vignettes inspired by the themes of the piece. The music was a primary inspiration, but not just the familiar orchestral version. Parker discovered that a host of musicians have offered different takes on the score, including swinging interpretations from Duke Ellington and electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott. There's even a klezmer version.

All these different musical styles worked perfectly with the style of The Bang Group, which is known for its playful, innovative choreography. This, explains Kazin, is where the subversion comes in: the company doesn't just confound expectations with its gender-blind casting, it subverts all your ideas about what ballet should look like.

"People who go to The Nutcracker probably aren't expecting a tap dance on bubble wrap to Glen Miller," explained Kazin. Wanting to preserve the fun of Nut/Cracked's many surprises, he was mum on further details, but he did promise that the show has something for everyone.

"The great thing about the show is that there are few dance genres that aren't included," he continued. "If tap dancing is your thing, we've got it. If you want to see Margo Fonteyn, or modern dance, you'll be happy."

There are even surprises in store for those who caught the show at last year's Festival: at least one new section will be added, and there have been some changes to the ensemble. "We used to perform it with just five of us," recalled Kazin with a laugh. "That was certainly a workout. This time we have a cast of 30, including a group of young dancers froma local school."

Overcome by Kazin's energy and persuasiveness, I promised him I'd attend the show. Look for me: I'll be the one with a Grinchy look on my face before the show starts. And if Nut/Cracked is half as good as it sounds, I'll be crying "God bless them, every one" at the curtain call.

Nut/Cracked plays at The Boston Center for the Arts, 529 Tremont St., Boston, through Nov. 10. Performances Wed. and Thurs. at 7:30 p.m., Fri. at 8 p.m. and Sat. at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets $20-$48. Info: www.thetheateroffensive.org or 617.933.8600.