2026 NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS
September 12 & 13, 2026
Location: Dallas Ballet Center
Cost: $50 per dancer
REQUIRED PARENT MEETING
Thursday, September 10 at 7:45pm OR Friday, September 11 at 7:00pm OR Saturday, September 12 at 8:15am
All Meetings Will Take Place at Dallas Ballet Center
A parent MUST attend for any auditioning dancer NO EXCEPTIONS
AUDITION DETAILS
-
Auditions are by age as of 9/1/2026, not by ballet class or academic grade levels.
-
Dancers MUST audition to perform.
-
Females MUST be age 6 by September 1, 2026 and have completed at least one
-
year of ballet. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE
-
Males MUST be age 7 by September 1, 2026 NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE
-
Each dancer MUST be an enrolled DBC ballet student.
-
NO DAY-OF-AUDITION ENROLLMENT.
-
DO NOT ask to change audition time. There are NO alternate audition dates
Audition registration and fee payment will be handled online:
-
Register online by midnight of Wednesday, September 9 at link below.
-
Link to pay audition fee ($50 per dancer) will be provided at Parent Meetings.
-
Late registration (day-of-audition) will have $15 late fee ($65 total).
Female Audition Attire: Black or level color leotard, pink tights, ballet slippers, hair in bun
Male Audition Attire: Black tights, bike pants or sweats, white t-shirt, black ballet shoes
Registration Open Now!
AUDITION SCHEDULE
Dancers audition by age on 9/1/2026
Saturday, September 12
11:30—12:15
12:25—1:20
1:30—2:30
2:40—3:40
3:50—5:05
5:15—6:00
6 Year Old Girls
7 Year Old Girls
8 Year Old Girls
9 Year Old Girls
10+ Year Old Girls NOT on pointe
for one full year
ALL Boys Age 7+
(older boys will also come Sunday)
Sunday, September 13
1:00—1:45
2:00—3:15
3:30—6:00
11+ Year Old Girls on pointe
for at least one full year
12+ Year Old Girls on pointe
for at least two full years
DBCo Senior Company Members;
Call-Backs & Variations
❄︎ REGISTER ONLINE IN ADVANCE
❄︎ MUST ATTEND AUDITION
❄︎ ARRIVE 30 MINUTES EARLY
❄︎ PAY AUDITION FEE BEFORE ARRIVING AT AUDITION
(payment form link provided at required parent meeting)
ATTENDANCE POLICY
-
First rehearsal (10/3) is MANDATORY
-
Tech & Dress rehearsals are MANDATORY
-
Bow rehearsal (11/21 at 4:15 pm) is MANDATORY
-
More than 2 missed rehearsals results in removal from Nutcracker cast
-
Two consecutive missed rehearsals results in removal from Nutcracker cast
-
Communicate all conflicts & absences during audition registration
-
Communicate last minute absence due to illness by email
CASTING GUIDELINES
-
Casting is FINAL and CANNOT be disputed
-
Dancers/families who attempt to dispute casting decisions will not be allowed to participate in the Nutcracker
-
Repeat and/or understudy roles are expected. If your dancer is unwilling to repeat a role, they should not audition
Tentative Rehearsal Schedule
Most rehearsals begin October 3. Roles marked all will perform in all 6 shows (two weekends); those marked red/green will perform in 3 shows (one weekend). Please note that some roles add extra rehearsal time for the final 4 rehearsals. All times/casting frequency listed here are subject to change.
Gingerbread & Pastry Chefs (red/green)
Saturdays RED 8:30–9:00am
Saturdays GREEN 9:00–9:30am
Angels (red/green)
Saturdays RED 2:00–2:45pm (first 4 rehearsals)
Saturdays RED 2:00–2:30pm (last 4 rehearsals)
Saturdays GREEN 2:45–3:30pm (first 4 rehearsals)
Saturdays GREEN 2:30–3:00pm (last 4 rehearsals)
Mice (red/green)
Saturdays RED 9:45–11:00am (first 4 rehearsals)
Saturdays RED 8:30–9:45am (last 4 rehearsals)
Saturdays GREEN 9:45–11:00am
Soldiers (red/green)
Saturdays RED 8:30–9:45am
Saturdays GREEN 8:30–9:45am (first 4 rehearsals)
Saturdays GREEN 9:45–11:00am (last 4 rehearsals)
Sugar Plum/Crown Attendants (red/green)
Saturdays RED 2:00–3:00pm
Saturdays GREEN 3:00–4:00pm
add Fridays 7:30–8:30pm (last 4 rehearsals)
Party Guests (all)
Saturdays 12:00–2:00pm
Merlitons (red/green)
Saturdays 11:00am–12:00pm
add Fridays 7:30–8:30pm (last 4 rehearsals)
add Saturdays 4:00–5:00pm (last 4 rehearsals)
Russians (red/green)
Saturdays 5:00pm–6:00pm
add Fridays 7:30–8:30pm (last 4 rehearsals)
add Saturdays 4:00–5:00pm (last 4 rehearsals)
Snow/Waltz/Variations/Other Roles
Times TBA