Oelwein NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS 2024

Open auditions will be held Wednesday, July 31 at the Northeast Iowa Dance Academy.
Address: 2645 S Frederick Ave Suite 1, Oelwein, IA 50662


Ballet Des Moines is thrilled to be hosting auditions for intermediate to advanced level dancers. Dancers in this production will rehearse and train alongside BDM's professional dancers and be part of a quintessential holiday tradition. Dancers will perform in the Oelwein matinee production on Sunday, December 1 at the Williams Center for the Arts.

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, 2024
Pickup will begin at the start of the registration time for the next group

Wednesday, July 31

Masterclass
Intermediate/Advanced dancers ages 8+
4:00-5:30pm

Ages 8 - 11
5:30pm Check-in
5:45-6:30pm Audition

Ages 12+
6:30 pm Check-in
6:45-7:30pm Audition

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?

Ballet Des Moines has created a Nutcracker Suite to accommodate a production of The Nutcracker specific to the Oelwein community. All casting, staging of choreography and running of rehearsals will be conducted by Ballet Des Moines staff members Tom Mattingly (Artistic Director) and Erin Arndorfer (Company Manager/Rehearsal Assistant).

Where and when will rehearsals take place?

The Nutcracker will be staged on Wednesday, August 7 with Tom and Erin. Remaining rehearsals will take place for a few hours on Sundays in November. All rehearsals with the exception of theatre week will take place at Northeast Iowa Dance Academy.

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

With staging the choreography a week after the audition it is a tight turn around. Dancers will receive casting on 8/1 and must commit by 8/6 at 12pm in order to participate. 

ADDITIONAL FAQs CAN BE FOUND BELOW THE REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTER FOR AUDITIONS

FAQs

When and where is the performance taking place?
Ballet Des Moines' Nutcracker Suite will take place at the Williams Center for the Arts in Oelwein on December 1, 2024.


My child turns eight after the audition. Can they still audition?
Unfortunately, we ask that dancers are 8 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?
Ballet Des Moines Artistic Staff have created choreography for dancers of different levels and ages. The choreography dancers learn in the audition doesn’t mean that is the role your child will be performing.


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?
Sundays (11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 11/31 or 12/1 prior to performance)

What if my dancer 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 illness and emergencies may 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.