DANCE DISCOVERY
Nutcracker Open AuditionsYou’re Invited to join The Nutcracker!
We would like to invite your child to join us in celebrating the most loved ballet of all time, The Nutcracker. Dance Discovery’s youth ballet company has performed the Nutcracker at the historic Scottish Rite Theatre in downtown Austin for over 20 years. For the very first time, we are inviting students from the public to join us in our performance.Â
Students entering 3rd -12th grades are welcome to audition on September 12th.
Photo courtesy of Violet Crown Photo Works.
2026 Performance Dates
Dress Rehearsals and Performances will take place Dec. 9-13 at The Scottish Rite Theatre in downtown Austin. Specific days and times between Dec. 9-13 will be available for your dancer Oct. 2.
Registration Deadline Thursday, Sept 10th @ 5pm
To Register please complete the Nutcracker Form at this LINK
Auditions Saturday, September 12thÂ
Choose your location: 2167 W Anderson Ln & 10526 W Parmer Ln
- 3:30-4:15pm: Dancers not en Pointe, 3rd, 4th, & 5th grades
- 4:30-5:15: Dancers en Pointe, 6th-12th grades (*Dancers will need to arrive at 4:00 for an independent warm-up. Audition will begin en pointe.)
Virtual Parent Meeting Thursday Sept 10th at 12pm
Photo courtesy of Violet Crown Photo Works.
Fall Class Requirements
All Dancers in The Nutcracker must be enrolled in and regularly attending classes at Dance Discovery or Avery Ranch Dance & Music
The minimum requirements for the Angel Chorus are:
- 3rd-4th grade – minimum of 1 hour of ballet class/week
- 5th-6th grade – minimum of 2 ballet classes/week
- 7th grade & up – minimum of 3 ballet classes/week
Ensemble roles and lead roles will have more requirements.
Roles outside of the Angel Chorus will be required to join the Ballet Company and follow their weekly team schedule.Â
Weekly Rehearsals
Choose your location: 2167 W Anderson Ln or 10526 W Parmer Ln. Weekly rehearsals will be held at Dance Discovery & Avery Ranch Dance & Music every Saturday beginning Sept. 19 through Dec. 5 from 12:45-2:45 with an additional rehearsal on Friday, Dec. 4th.
There will be no rehearsals during Thanksgiving Nov. 28. Lead roles may require additional rehearsals. Please expect to be called for at least a portion of the time every Saturday for the duration of the rehearsals leading up to the shows. Dancers will be called according to their casting and the rehearsal of each dance/scene they are cast in. As the performance approaches, please be prepared for your dancer to stay for the entire rehearsal period. Some rehearsals will have extended hours and will be announced in advance; and of course, everyone will be expected to attend all rehearsals. Tech and Dress rehearsal times and dates, at The Scottish Rite Theatre, are TBD but plan for these the week of our performance. We will post the rehearsal schedule/call times for your dancer after auditions so that you can plan ahead.
Absences Due to the limited number of rehearsal days/times (only 10 weeks!) you must attend all rehearsals. Absences affect the entire cast. Any absence not communicated & approved well in advance may impact your dancer’s performance eligibility. Please communicate to directors regarding any conflicts prior to accepting your roles.
Tuition $400 – Tuition includes costume rental, rehearsals, and performance fees. Tickets will be available for sale in November. Shows do sell out quickly. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is due by Wednesday, August 23 along with the registration form. The balance of $200 is due by October 1st. Parents are also responsible for providing the following additional items such as pink tights, pink ballet shoes and/or pointe shoes in performance condition, and a nude camisole leotard to be worn as an undergarment with all costumes. Additionally, certain roles call for character shoes and/or black slip-on style jazz shoes that will need to be provided.Â
A limited number of spots are available for the performance. Any student that is not cast in The Nutcracker will receive a refund.
Audition Process: Directors will have the opportunity to see dancers in an informal class to see which roles each dancer may be best suited for. Dancers new to Dance Discovery will need to be assessed in Ballet/Pointe before the registration deadline Thursday, Sept 10th @ 5pm. Casting assignments for The Nutcracker will be announced September 18th.
Photo courtesy of Violet Crown Photo Works.