Organizing Nutcracker Auditions for a Medium Sized School

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  • August 5, 2013 at 12:21 pm #4373

    jvilleballet
    Participant

    Hello,

    I recently opened a new school in upstate New York. Our first production of the Nutcracker is coming up soon and I was wondering if anyone had advice for best assigning roles to different class levels? The largest class has just over 15 students and the smallest is about 6, and everything in between.

    Thanks for any advice you can send my way! This is likely to be a stressful season.

    August 8, 2013 at 3:05 pm #4376

    vmdance
    Participant

    Welcome to ballethub jvilleballet and congratulations on opening your new school.

    Nutcracker is usually the most busy time for many schools, if they’re doing one of course, and it will get better year to year.

    At our school, we give the parts of Sugar Plum, Snow Queen, Arabian, and Dew Drop to our advanced level who have the most partnering experience. If you don’t offer partnering at your school, this can be tricky, one year we didn’t have the pas de deuxes, just solos. Other than that, the lower levels do the dances in Act 2 and party scene. We have our little tots doing the mice too, which is very cute.

    I hope thats a little helpful, good luck!

    August 9, 2013 at 8:39 pm #4377

    jvilleballet
    Participant

    Hello vmdance!

    Thank you for your response… Yes, that is what I was thinking. As you mentioned, we’re a little short on boys, so there won’t be any partnering. Using the younger levels as mice is a great idea, just costumes may become an issue! Oh boy…

    August 10, 2013 at 9:08 am #4379

    jvilleballet
    Participant

    I actually purchased the school from its previous owners and along with it came a whole slew of things for nutcracker. We have props and costumes and two nice backdrops for our small little theatre.

    Now that we’re on costumes, I’m wondering about party parents… Apparently in past years the actual parents of the students would participate (mostly standing on the side) and now I am thinking to maybe have the oldest level do some of them.

    August 10, 2013 at 12:36 pm #4378

    vmdance
    Participant

    Yes, costumes do play a huge role in casting roles. *wink wink*. Do you already have a full set/renting?

    August 12, 2013 at 3:18 pm #4380

    dancesouth
    Participant

    We’ve mostly used parents for the party parents. Unless you choreograph lots of dancing, the kids won’t be that excited. It’s best to cast the older girls in Waltz or Snow, if you have them in your production.

    August 15, 2013 at 8:43 pm #4381

    jvilleballet
    Participant

    Yes, good call. This way the parents can be involved still and upper level will enjoy more dancing.

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