• Nutcracker Auditions WORK

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.

Audition Requirements

Please watch the two short videos and read all the audition requirements sections below, making note of the fees, mandatory events and 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 complete the online registration process by Wednesday, August 12, at 11:59pm.

Please note: Auditions are in-person only for dancers not enrolled in college for the fall semester.

  • Auditioning dancers are required to be at least 8 years old on or before August 31.

    Ballet Requirements

    • All auditioning dancers must be enrolled and maintaining attendance in a ballet class during the entire Nutcracker season.

    • Dancers attending a pointe audition and cast in a pointe role must also be enrolled and maintaining attendance in a pointe class.

    • If a dancer is cast, Ballet Brazos will confirm enrollment and attendance with the dancer’s studio upon acceptance of roles and during the season.

    Although it is not required, in order to increase your chances of earning a place in our production we strongly recommend the following:

    Age: 8-9

    • Years of Ballet Training: 2-3

    • Hours of Ballet Training per Week: 1-1.5

    Age: 10-12

    • Years of Ballet Training: 4-5

    • Hours of Ballet Training per Week: 3

    Age 13+

    • Years of Ballet Training: 6+

    • Hours of Ballet Training per Week: 5

    • Participation in Summer Ballet Intensives, either locally or outside the Brazos Valley

    Pointe

    • Hours of Ballet Training per Week: 5

    • Participation in Summer Ballet Intensives, either locally or outside the Brazos Valley

    • Pointe classes at least 2-3 hours per week throughout the previous year and current summer

    • REQUIRED: En pointe for at least one full calendar year by auditions

    Party Parents will be cast by invitation only

  • Please read the Ballet Brazos Policies for all performers thoroughly. Ballet Brazos Dancers, their families, and guardians must follow the policies outlined in the Ballet Brazos Dancer Handbook and in the Ballet Brazos Understudy Guide.

  • Please review the Rehearsal Schedule for performers. Performers must adhere to the attendance requirement outlined in the Dancer Handbook and verify that they do not have conflicts with the attendance policy.

    To host a production of this kind, dancers must be willing to commit to the entire schedule. Please do not audition if you anticipate conflicts with school, sports, or family engagements will result in not adhering to our attendance requirements.

    Please take special note that dancers cast have MANDATORY rehearsals or events on the dates below. You must take these mandatory dates into consideration when signing up for auditions. If unable to commit, you may not sign up for auditions.

    • Sat, Aug 22

    • Sat, Aug 29

    • Sat, Sep 12

    • Sat, Sep 19

    • Sat, Sep 26

    • Sat, Oct 24

    • Sat, Nov 14

    • Wed, Dec 2 - Sat, Dec 5

  • Dancers must wear the required rehearsal attire for auditions. 

    Female

    • Leotard - ALL BLACK (no other color leotards or accent colors 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 t-shirt/ballet t-shirt

    • Men’s/boy’s black ballet tights or shorts

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

    • Hair must be neatly combed and away from face

    • Ballet suspenders may be worn with ballet tights

    Dancers who are cast must have their own required ballet garments for their role(s), which will be detailed in the costume guide they will receive upon being cast. As an example, a female role may require: a leotard, two pairs of tights, shoes for their role, and rhinestone stud earrings. As an example, a male role may require: men’s ballet tights, dance belt, ballet t-shirt, and shoes for their role.

  • Dancers must upload two photos with their registration: a picture in first arabesque and a headshot. Photos do not need to be professional photos.

    FIRST ARABESQUE PHOTO

    Dancers should be in audition attire in the photo. Ladies should wear their hair in a neat bun and natural makeup, if any is worn. Young men should have hair neatly styled - secured from their face if the hair is long. First arabesque is recommended to be photographed at a dance studio in center with a plain wall behind.

    • Ladies, 8-9: First Arabesque (on flat)

    • Ladies, 10+: First Arabesque (on relevé; en pointe, if pointe audition)

    • Boys and Men: First Arabesque (on flat)

    HEADSHOT

    Dancers should be in audition attire in the photo. Ladies should wear their hair in a neat bun and natural makeup, if any is worn. Young men should have hair neatly styled - secured from their face if the hair is long.

  • Number of Roles Per Dancer

    • Dancers will have the opportunity to indicate the number of roles they are willing to accept during registration.

    • Some dancers may be cast in more than one role if they have indicated interest on their registration form.

    • Ballet Brazos' policy is to cast no more than 4 roles per dancer, including understudy roles. Lead/corps combination roles count as one role. (Any more than 4 roles requires Board of Directors approval.)

    • Dancers must accept all roles offered, or decline being part of the performance. If offered multiple roles based on the number indicated during registration, dancers may not choose to accept some and decline others.

    Mandatory Dates

    • Please take special note that dancers cast have MANDATORY rehearsals or events on the dates below. You must take these mandatory dates into consideration when signing up for auditions. If unable to commit, you may not sign up for auditions.

    • Sat, Aug 22

    • Sat, Aug 29

    • Sat, Sep 12

    • Sat, Sep 19

    • Sat, Sep 26

    • Sat, Oct 24

    • Sat, Nov 14

    • Wed, Dec 2 - Sat, Dec 5

    Cast Announcement

    • The cast will be announced August 19, at 4:00pm.

    • Dancers declining all offered roles must do so by August 20, at 7:00am, or they will be ineligible to audition the following year.

    • Casting decisions are final, based on adjudication and Artistic Director decisions.

Audition Dates and Times

August 15

Location

Bryan ISD Performing Arts Center
Stephen F Austin Middle School
800 S Coulter Dr
Bryan, TX 77803

Audition Fee

  • Technique Only: $30/dancer

  • Technique & Pointe: $45/dancer

Registration

Registration must be completed online by Wednesday, August 12.

No registration at the door.

Audition Groups

Dancers will be notified of their audition group by email on August 14 at 6:00pm.

  • Ages: 8, Technique

    • 8:45am-9:30am

    Arrive at 8:00am to check in and warm up

  • Ages: 9-10, Technique

    • 9:30am-10:15am - Group 1
    Arrive at 8:45am to check in and warm up

    • 10:30am-11:15am - Group 2
    Arrive at 9:45am to check in and warm up

  • Ages: 11-12, Technique

    • 11:45am-12:45pm - Group 1
    Arrive at 11:00am to check in and warm up

    • 1:00pm-2:00pm - Group 2
    Arrive at 12:15pm to check in and warm up

  • Ages: 13+, Technique 1

    (For dancers with less than 2 full calendar years of pointe)

    • 2:15pm-3:30pm

    **Dancers must be in years 1 or 2 of pointe experience or have no pointe experience


    Arrive at 1:15pm to check in and warm up

  • Pointe 1*

    (For dancers with at least 1 full calendar year of pointe and less than 2 full calendar years of pointe)

    • 3:30pm-4:15pm

    *Optional audition
    *Dancers must be in year 2 of pointe experience with at least a full calendar year of pointe experience
    *Must attend both a Technique and the Pointe audition

  • Ages: 13+, Technique 2

    (For dancers with more than 2 full calendar years of pointe)

    • 4:15pm-5:30pm

    **Dancers must be in at least year 3 of pointe experience with at least 2 full calendar years of pointe experience


    Arrive at 3:15pm to check in and warm up

  • Pointe 2*

    (For dancers with more than 2 full calendar years of pointe)

    • 5:30pm-6:30pm

    • 6:30pm-7:00pm *call back invitation only

    *Optional audition
    **Dancers must be in at least year 3 of pointe experience with at least 2 full calendar years of pointe experience
    *Must attend both a Technique and the Pointe audition

What to expect when auditioning

  • Dancers will receive their official audition group and times Friday, August 14, at 6:00pm, via email. If you have not received your audition group by 6:30pm, please contact info@balletbrazos.org

    • Please arrive at your scheduled arrival time. Your completed online Registration Form will be printed by us and provided for review at the audition.

    • Auditions are closed and may not be observed by families. Families may wait in the lobby where videos about the auditions and casting process are explained and the opportunity to ask questions will be available. Families may also leave and return at the end of auditions.

    • Your dancer will be released at the end of auditions. Please plan to promptly pick your dancer up at that time.

    • Dancers will receive numbers to safety pin to their leotards/t-shirts. Numbers will be pinned on by audition staff for young dancers. Older dancers will pin their own numbers.

    • Height and measurements will be taken at check in to allow our costume staff to prepare for fittings.

    • Caregivers/guardians may stay to watch audition and casting videos. Ballet Brazos representatives will be available to answer all questions during their dancer’s audition. This will be an opportunity for the adults to ask questions regarding the audition process, accepting/declining roles, etc.

    • Auditions are closed auditions. Caregivers may not remain with their dancers after they are checked in.

    • Caregivers may stay inside the facility in the designated waiting area or may leave the facility and return at the end of their dancer’s audition.

    • Once dancers are checked in, they will be allowed to warm up for auditions. Auditions for ages 8-12 will have an assistant who will help guide our dancers in warming up. Older dancers will warm up on their own at this time.

    • We ask that our dancers please only bring their dance shoes to change into, a small dance bag with water, and any items they need for dancing. Electronic devices are permitted, but must be put away in dance bags with the ringer set to silent. No photography or use of phones is permitted without staff permission once dancers are checked in. These items may not be brought into the audition room and will be left in a designated area outside the audition room.

    • Ballet Brazos is not responsible for any items lost or left behind.

  • Ages 8-10 auditions and ages 11+ Technique auditions will begin with a short barre. Judges will be watching their technique, knowledge of age appropriate ballet skills, ability to pick up combinations, and general presence in class.

    All auditions will have some combinations in center, away from the barre. In addition to the same categories as at barre, the judges will be able to observe stage presence, which styles of the various Nutcracker roles suit the dancers, how well they dance in groups, etc.

    Older dancers may also be given combinations across the floor and portions of variations to further assess their ballet skills.

  • A few dancers may be asked for callbacks. The judges will request they stay for the next age group audition. Ballet Brazos staff will notify the dancer’s caregiver so arrangements can be made to pick them up at the later time.

    Please be prepared for callbacks with water and nutritious, non-messy snacks for your dancer who may need refueling between audition sessions. Snacks are to remain in dance bags except in designated areas and only for those who are waiting for their callback session. Other dancers may have snacks in the main lobby only.

  • Ballet Brazos has very high expectations for ability and stamina in pointe work due to the intensity and length of weekly rehearsals. Dancers auditioning en pointe should continue to take pointe classes at least 2-3 hours per week throughout the summer in order to be prepared for this audition. Also, please note that for the safety of dancers, pointe auditions may only be scheduled for dancers en pointe for at least one full calendar year.

    Pointe auditions will be similar to a master class. It will begin with barre work. As before, judges will be watching their technique, knowledge of ballet skills, strength of pointe work, ability to pick up combinations, and general presence in class.

    The audition will include combinations across the floor, center work, and portions of variations. In addition to the same categories as at barre, the judges will be able to observe stage presence, which styles of the various Nutcracker roles suit the dancers, how well they dance in groups, stamina en pointe, etc.

  • During the Pointe auditions, dancers are released at different times. This may be for the dancer’s safety, the skills required for the rest of the audition are above their level at that point, or the judges have decided what roles they would recommend for the dancer.

    We request the dancer’s transportation stay close so that the dancer may be picked up within 5 minutes of being released. Dancers who do not have a device to contact their transportation will be allowed to use the Ballet Brazos phone.

    • The cast will be announced August 19, at 4:00pm. All dancers auditioning will receive an email with the Cast List.

    • If you have not received an email by 4:30pm, please contact info@balletbrazos.org.

    • Dancers accepting or declining all offered roles must do so by August 20, at 7:00am, or they will be ineligible to audition the following year.

    • Casting decisions are final, based on adjudication and Artistic Director decisions.

    • The cast will be announced August 19, at 4:00pm.

    • Dancers declining all offered roles must do so by August 20, at 7:00am, or they will be ineligible to audition the following year.

    • Casting decisions are final, based on adjudication and Artistic Director decisions.

Register for Auditions

Register.

Registration must be completed online by Wednesday, August 12, at 11:59pm. No registration at the door.

Please watch the two short videos and read all the audition requirements carefully, making note of the fees, mandatory events and rehearsal schedule, and attendance policy prior to auditioning. All 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 complete the online registration process by Wednesday, August 12, at 11:59pm.

Please take special note that dancers cast in Nutcracker have MANDATORY rehearsals or events on the dates below. You must take these mandatory dates into consideration when signing up for auditions. If unable to commit, you may not sign up for auditions.

  • Sat, Aug 22

  • Sat, Aug 29

  • Sat, Sep 12

  • Sat, Sep 19

  • Sat, Sep 26

  • Sat, Oct 24

  • Sat, Nov 14

  • Wed, Dec 2 - Sat, Dec 5

You may upload digital copies (under 1M each) of your headshot and first arabesque through the online form and may update your form until August 12 at 11:59pm.

Register for Auditions

Pay fee.

$30/dancer, Technique only
$45/dancer, Technique & Pointe

Pay Audition Fee

See you at auditions.

Please arrive at your scheduled arrival time to check in and complete the registration process. Auditions are closed and may not be observed by parents.

Cast Announcement

The cast will be announced August 19, at 4:00pm. All dancers auditioning will receive an email with the Cast List. If you have not received an email by 4:30pm, please contact info@balletbrazos.org.

Dancers accepting or declining offered roles must do so by August 20, at 7:00am, or they will be ineligible to audition the following year.

FAQs

  • Dancers not in college

    • Dancers who are NOT in college must be present for in-person auditions. No video auditions will be accepted.

    Dancers attending college in the fall

    • While in-person auditions are strongly encouraged and preferred, Ballet Brazos acknowledges that on occasion college dancers are unable to attend in person due to conflicts or logistics. College dancers who would like to submit a video audition should read the information on the College Dancer Auditions page

  • Auditioning dancers must be at least 8 years old on or before August 31, 2025. While they are not old enough to audition this year if they are not 8 on or before August 31, we would love for them to join our auditions when they meet the minimum age requirement!

  • The photos do NOT need to be professional photos. The photos will be used for auditions and the website (until our professional headshot day). It is best if they are done with a solid background.

  • Participation in Summer Ballet Intensives, either locally or outside the Brazos Valley, is not required for auditioning. However, it does help dancers strengthen their technique and stamina, which are important for advanced and lead roles. Thus they are strongly recommended for our dancers seeking advanced or lead roles.