• Nutcracker Auditions: College Students

Photo: Vacanva Photography. (Ballet Brazos Nutcracker 2024 Waltz of the Flowers)

Auditions are in the form of a master class, led by Diane Bedford, Clinical Associate Professor and Section Chair of Dance Science and Performing Arts in the new School of Performance, Visualization, and Fine Art at Texas A&M University, and Erin Duncan, former dancer with Atlanta Ballet and instructor at Fort Bend Academy of Dance. Auditions are adjudicated by two or more outside judges with professional ballet experience. Casting decisions are final, based on adjudication and Artistic Director decisions. An independent board member and observer will certify that casting is consistent with the outside judge scoring.

Ballet Brazos is offering a video audition for those dancers who are college students and are unable to attend our in-person auditions. More details will be added to this page in June. Please sign up using the button below to receive informational emails and check this page often.

Save the Date

Nutcracker Auditions

Saturday, August 16

Registration for auditions will begin in June! Please check back for more information.

Video Auditions

While in-person auditions are strongly encouraged and preferred, Ballet Brazos acknowledges that on occasion dancers are unable to attend in person due to conflicts or logistics. Dancers who would like to submit a video audition should email info@balletbrazos.org prior to submission to verify eligibility.

For those college dancers who will be auditioning via video auditions, please read all the audition requirements sections once they are available, making note of the fees, rehearsal schedule, and attendance policy prior to auditioning. Dancers will be responsible for fulfilling all the requirements of auditioning and of being a Ballet Brazos dancer.

Once you have verified that you are eligible to audition and can fulfill the requirements of a Ballet Brazos dancer, please submit your audition video along with your registration by August 13, at 11:59pm.

Please read the audition guidelines below carefully. Videos missing any of these elements will not be considered.

  • Dancers must wear appropriate rehearsal attire for video auditions. 

    Female

    • Leotard - BLACK (no colored leotards or accents on black leotards)

    • Ballet tights - pink or skin-toned

    • Ballet shoes - pink or skin-toned. Shoes should match the tights.

    • NO skirts, tutus, or shorts

    • Hair must be neatly secured away from face in a classical ballet bun, French twist, or similar style

    Male

    • PLAIN white fitted t-shirt

    • Men’s black ballet tights

    • Ballet shoes - black, white, or skin-toned (white socks optional)

    • Hair must be neatly combed and away from face

  • All videos should include the following:

    • Barre work: Plié, Tendu, Dégagé, Ronde de Jambe, Fondu, Grand Battement

      • Dancers may perform these exercises en pointe or demi-pointe.

    • Center work: Adagio, Pirouette (en dehors and en dedans), Petit Allegro, Grand Allegro

      • Dancers auditioning for pointe roles should perform these exercises en pointe.

    • Pointe exercises (if applicable): Relevé, Échappé, Passé, Pirouette

      • Dancers auditioning for pointe roles should perform these exercises in center.

    • Variations (if applicable): Snow Queen, Dew Drop, Lead Marzipan, Lead Spanish

      • Dancers auditioning for pointe roles should include the following Nutcracker Variations:

        • Snow Queen

        • Dew Drop 1

        • Dew Drop 2

        • Lead Marzipan

        • Lead Spanish

        • Videos of all variation clips can be found here. 

    Men’s exercises (if applicable): Tour en L’air, Tours a la Seconde, Entrechat

    • Videos should be no longer than 15 minutes and must have been filmed within the three months prior to submission.

    • Videos must be shared via a working link and all permissions to view all materials must be granted.

    • DVD submissions are not accepted.

Audition Information Mailing List

You may sign up for our Texas A&M student dancer video auditions 2025 mailing list if you would like to receive emails, tips, and reminders regarding auditions. Signing up for the mailing list is not a commitment to audition, nor is it registering you to audition.