2024 Nutcracker Audition

OPEN AUDITION INFORMATION

DATE: Saturday August 24, 2024

TIME: 12.00pm – 2.30pm 


CHECK IN: 10 min before your time slot


LOCATION: All in-person auditions take place at Jax City Ballet School (51 Ellis ST, Ste. 107, St. Augustine, Fl 32095)

Registration for Audition:

 If your student currently attends JCBS or JCD, please Click Here.

For all other students, please complete  The Online Form.

Participation Fee: (includes participation, rental stage cost, sound/light, rehearsal time, costumes, costume dry cleaning ) – $249

Participation Fee for 4-5 years old – $189

Students who receive a role with a partner (pas-de-deux) will be charged an additional $120 fee upon payment of the participation fee.

10% family DISCOUNT (for second and more student in family)

Register in Advance

Registration will close on Thursday, 8/22 at 11:59 pm. NO WALK-IN will be allowed. 

Male dancers – Ages: 4+ (with dance training and/or onstage acting experience)

Female dancers – Ages: 4+ (must currently be enrolled in ballet classes at any dance studio) 

IMPORTANT! For parents with young dancers auditioning, please note that our final Nutcracker Performance will be an evening performance, tentatively scheduled for 7:00pm. Dancers ages 4-5 will only be required to stay for the First Act. This will allow young performers to get home earlier if needed, as we most likely will be in the theatre until 9:30pm-ish. You are of course, welcome to stay and watch the whole performance. You choose what works best for your family.

CHECK IN:

10 min before your time slot. After students sign in, they will receive audition numbers with safety pins. Please keep/remember your number! You will need it for role acceptation.

AUDITION RESULTS: 

All roles will be posted by audition number online only at www.JaxCityBallet.org following auditions.

An email will be sent out when casting has been posted.

Please refrain from calling Jax City Ballet School regarding audition results.

IMPORTANT CASTING INFORMATION:

Casting and placement are at the discretion the JCBS Artistic Staff. Auditioning for The Nutcracker does not guarantee being cast to perform.

The Audition

Auditions might last longer than time allocated. Bring a snack and water to auditions.

IMPORTANT!

You are auditioning to participate in The Nutcracker Ballet — not for a specific role. Please DO NOT audition if you are unwilling to accept the role you are given.

Registration online in advance is required. Your registration is not complete until audition fee per dancer is paid online. The audition fee is not refundable.

The auditions are closed and may not be observed by parents or the general public. Please wait outside.

Auditions for dancers ages 4-7 will be held from 12pm-12.30pm.

Auditions for dancers ages 8-12 will be held from 12.45pm-1.30pm.

Auditions for dancers ages 13+  will be held from 1.45pm-2.30pm.

Dancers auditioning on pointe must have a minimum of 1 year of pointe training.

REHEARSALS:

Regular weekly rehearsals will be held at Jax City Ballet School at 51 Ellis St, Ste. 107, St.Augustine, Fl 32095.

Group rehearsals will be held on Saturdays through the fall starting September 14th. The directors and teachers evaluate rehearsals regularly and adjust the rehearsal schedule as needed.

Full cast rehearsals are held on four consecutive Saturdays beginning in late November.

Rehearsals will begin the weekend of September 14th and continue through December 19th, with the dress rehearsal on stage on December 21st.

Preparing to Audition 

Students should arrive dressed in their dancewear with hair already prepared.

Before the Audition

Please do not arrive more than 15 min prior to your scheduled audition time. We want to be prepared to welcome each dancer, but we have to get ready first!

Parents may accompany dancers as far as lobby but then we ask them to wait outside since there is not much space at the waiting area.

During the Audition

Dancers will be asked to learn and perform some choreography in groups.

Dancers will be selected based on technical, artistic and performance ability.

After the Audition

Casting decisions are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Faculty. All casting decisions are final.

What to Wear

Dancers ages 4-9 only need Ballet shoes

Dancers ages 10+ please bring Ballet & Pointe shoes (only if currently trained)

Proper dress attire for the audition:

Female dancers: Solid color leotard, tights, ballet skirt (optional), and hair in a secure bun. No jewelry.

Male dancers: T-shirt (black or white), tights, jazz pants or shorts, ballet shoes.

Attendance and Conduct

Because The Jax City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is a professional production, attendance at all practices/rehearsals is extremely important. Cast members are allowed three excused absence, which must take place before December 1, 2024.

If a cast member is not able to participate because of the attendance policy, the Artistic Staff reserves the right to assign a cast member’s role(s) to someone else.

The Children’s Cast is an important part of The Nutcracker each year.  We expect our Children’s Cast members to act respectfully and courteously.

Frequently asked questions

My child has auditioned for the Nutcracker, has been accepted, but would like to decline her participation/role.  Is there a penalty? 

 Yes, there is a penalty, as finding a replacement for your child takes valuable time away from the production. If the role is rejected, your child will not be able to audition for The Nutcracker for the following season or any other Jax City Ballet’s productions.

How do I register for auditions?

To register for auditions, visit our Nutcracker Audition Registration page at www.JaxCityBallet.org and follow the directions.

How do I get answers to my questions?

You can contact Jax City Ballet by text on 904.554.2722 or by email at info@jaxcityballet.org. Make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Download BAND App and Join Jax City Ballet for quick updates.

Throughout rehearsals and performances, we send monthly email notification by email so make sure that all of our families are kept up-to-date on relevant information!

What other costume items am I responsible for?

You are responsible to provide the appropriate dance shoes and undergarments for your child’s role, as well as the proper make-up.

We provide all costumes. In addition to these borrowed costumes, students must wear their own nude leotards (if needed), footed ballet pink tights, and pink ballet canvas slippers. The tights and shoes should be the same color. Other footwear may be required depending on the role. Boys may be required to wear a specific color pants or socks depending on their role.

How will I find out about my dancer’s part?

All parts will be posted by audition number online only at www.JaxCityBallet.org following auditions.

An email will be sent out when casting has been posted.

How do I get updates & information?

All information updates will be emailed to you and posted through our social media pages. If you have any questions at any point in time, please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

If I am not volunteering can I wait with my child backstage? 

No, there will be many volunteers acting as chaperones for the students in the cast of The Nutcracker. Dancers will be sharing dressing rooms, so there will be plenty of people to keep them company!  Please drop your child off in the dressing room and let the chaperone know if there is anything she should know or be aware of.   

How much are tickets to performances?

 They vary in price depending on seat location. The Nutcracker performance sell out quickly.

Do you film the performances?

Yes. Dancers can order a digital download of the performance.

How many rehearsals I can miss?

You may miss only three rehearsals, although we would prefer you do not miss any rehearsal. This is very important. Young dancers need all their fellow cast members present in order to best learn spacing and choreography.

Dancers may not miss the mandatory dress rehearsals or in-studio run-through rehearsals.