FAIRFIELD NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS 2023

Open auditions will be held Sunday, September 17 at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center.
Whether this is your tiny dancer's first stage performance or you have a budding Fritz or Clara at home, dancers in this production will rehearse and train alongside BDM's professional dancers and be part of a quintessential holiday tradition.

Please fill out the audition form below to reserve your spot in the Nutcracker Auditions.

Audition Schedule
Please come to the age group based on dancers age as of October 1, 2023
Pickup will begin at the start of the registration time for the next group

Sunday, September 17

Ages 5 and 6
1:15 pm Check-in
1:30-2:00 Audition

Ages 7 - 9
1:45 pm Check-in
2:15-3:00 Audition

Ages 10 – 12
2:45 pm Check-in
3:15-4:15 Audition

Age 13+
3:45 pm Check-in
4:30-5:45 Audition

*The 13+ age group will have a pointe section at the end, however if you aren’t on pointe then it is okay to do this part of the audition on flat. Any dancers younger than 13 on pointe, please bring your shoes and we’ll make a note during check-in.

Audition Dress Code and Required Materials
Female identifying dancers: please wear your hair in a ballet bun, a solid color leotard, ballet tights, and pink ballet shoes. The audition will take place in flat shoes, but if you dance on pointe, please bring your pointe shoes in the event we do a pointe section at the end of your audition.

Male identifying dancers: please wear a white t-shirt, black shorts or ballet tights and black ballet shoes.

Non-binary dancers may wear whichever attire they feel more comfortable in.

All dancers are requested to bring a headshot, no larger than 4×6 (this photo will not be returned). This does not need to be a professional photograph, but should provide an appropriate image of your child.

Please email erin@balletdesmoines.org if you are unable to attend our audition and are interested in participating.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

What type of production will this be?

First and foremost, this is a community production of Ballet Des Moines’ The Nutcracker. All casting, staging of choreography, and running of rehearsals will be conducted by Ballet Des Moines staff. As the Artistic Director, I will personally be traveling to Fairfield each Sunday to run all rehearsals with our community class. If I am not able to travel to Fairfield due to illness or injury BDM rehearsal assistants Erin Arndorfer or Michael Tomlinson will fill in for the day.

Where and when will rehearsals take place?

Rehearsals will take place Sunday mornings and afternoons from late October through December. It is important to BDM that rehearsals take place in a dance studio with appropriate flooring and mirrors for dance. Currently, Iowa Dance Collective has offered to donate studio space for Sunday rehearsals. Is your studio interested in partnering to host a Sunday rehearsal too? If so, please have your studio owner contact me at tom@balletdesmoines.org. We would love to have as much community involvement as possible!

What if the roads are too dangerous for a Ballet Des Moines representative to travel to Fairfield for rehearsals?

Safety is our top priority. If the highways and local streets prohibit travel, we may cancel the rehearsal day. All families would be notified via email. If the highways are too dangerous but the local streets are safe, we will make other arrangements to ensure rehearsal can still take place. If your studio is interested in partnering with us to host a Sunday rehearsal, please have your studio owner contact me at tom@balletdesmoines.org.

What is the timeline for auditioning, casting, and committing to participate?

The audition takes place Sunday September 17. Approximately 1 week after the audition Ballet Des Moines will notify families of the role their dancer has been offered. Families will then have another 5-7 days to confirm or decline participation.

What if I/my dancer has an unexpected conflict or illness and can’t attend the audition?

We understand that these things happen! If your dancer is not able to attend, we will accept a video audition submitted on or before Wednesday September 20. For more information please contact Erin Arndorfer at erin@balletdesmoines.org.

FIND ADDITIONAL FAIRFIELD FAQs BELOW THE REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTER FOR AUDITIONS

Dancer Name

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Email for Communication

Dancer Height

Dancer Age

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Nutcracker Rehearsal Schedule

Our rehearsal schedule is subject to change, however we are aiming to begin rehearsals in Fairfield late October or early November. As of now rehearsals will take place on Sundays and a possible weeknight if needed. If this rehearsal schedule does not work for you/your dancer(s) please explain why in the comment box below.

Current Dance Studio(s)

Please write N/A if not taking studio classes.

List what classes and how many hours a week you dance below:

Please write N/A if new to dance or not currently dancing.

Parent 1 Name

First Name

Last Name

Phone

(###)

###

####

Email

Employer

Does your employer match donations?

Parent 2 Name

First Name

Last Name

Phone

(###)

###

####

Email

Employer

Does your employer match donations?

Emergency Contact Name & Relationship

First Name

Last Name

Phone

(###)

###

####

How did you hear about The Nutcracker audutions?

FAQs

When and where are performances taking place?
Des Moines' only professional production of The Nutcracker will take place December 14-16 at Fairfield Arts and Convention Center

My child turns five after the audition. Can they still audition?
Unfortunately, we ask that dancers are 5 years of age at the time of auditions.

Does my child/am I as a dancer learning actual choreography from The Nutcracker during the audition?
Our Nutcracker Rehearsal Director has created choreography for dancers of all levels. This choreography does not necessarily represent the actual role you/your child is being considered for within the Nutcracker production.

What if I can't attend the September audition?
We will make an alternate audition option available to those families who cannot make the September 17 audition. Please email erin@balletdesmoines.org if you are unable to attend our audition and are interested in participating.

Is there a fee to participate?
Yes. The participation fee for Ballet Des Moines' nutcracker performers is $125 including costumes, training, production costs, and a download link to a recording of a full performance featuring your child.

What if I can't afford the participation fee? Scholarships are available!
It is our policy that no student should be precluded from dancing at Ballet Des Moines for financial reasons. If the participation fee is out of reach for your family, please email erin@balletdesmoines.org for assistance and information about scholarships and other assistance programs.

Do I have to supply my own shoes and tights?
Yes. If your costume includes colored tights or shoes, BDM’s wardrobe department will coordinate the dying process.

When are rehearsals?
Rehearsals take place every Sunday (except Thanksgiving weekend), beginning at the end of October.

What if I can't attend rehearsals every Sunday?
It is the responsibility of each student to ensure rehearsals leading up to The Nutcracker productions are a priority. However, we understand that some scheduling issues arise. Please discuss your availability and/or needs as early as they arise with our Nutcracker Rehearsal Director, Erin Arndorfer. She can be reached at erin@balletdesmoines.org.

How many/which performances will I be in?
Dancers in Ballet Des Moines production of The Nutcracker in Fairfield will be in all 3 performances!

What if I don't like my role?
All roles are loved equally by our audiences, however we understand that you may have had something else in mind. The professional staff at Ballet Des Moines provides strategic thought to ensuring the many dancers in The Nutcracker are placed in appropriate roles for their skill level. We do not allow for roles to be switched upon casting.

Can my child dance in multiple studio’s productions of The Nutcracker?
YES! We have taken into account community performances and rehearsal schedules in order to ensure as little conflict as possible. We would love the opportunity for your dancer to be on stage with our company professionals this December. If you have any questions regarding schedules, please contact our Nutcracker Rehearsal Director at erin@balletdesmoines.org.