Ballet Des Moines' THE NUTCRACKER Auditions Begin Aug. 23

Ballet Des Moines today announced upcoming audition dates and times for the beloved holiday classic, THE NUTCRACKER. Auditions will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24 at Ballet Des Moines, 121 S. 11th St., Suite 100 in West Des Moines.

Ballet Des Moines’ THE NUTCRACKER is based on the 1892 classic and features more than 300 local student dancers performing alongside Ballet Des Moines’ professional dancers. With choreography by artistic director Serkan Usta and ballet mistress Lori Grooters, THE NUTCRACKER returns to the Hoyt Sherman Place stage, Dec. 11-14, 2014.

Audition dates and times, and age groups, are as follows:

Saturday August 23, 2014

9 a.m. — Registration (ages 13 and up)
9:30 a.m. — Auditions (ages 13 and up)

11:30 a.m. — Registration (ages 11 and 12)
Noon — Auditions (ages 11 and 12)

1:30 p.m. — Registration (ages 9 and 10)
2 p.m. — Auditions (ages 9 and 10)

Sunday August 24, 2014

12:30 p.m. — Registration (ages 7 and 8)
1 p.m. — Auditions (ages 7 and 8)

2:30 p.m. — Registration (ages 5 and 6)
3 p.m. — Auditions (ages 5 and 6)

Rehearsals begin Sept. 20, 2014 and run each Saturday, and some Tuesday evenings, until the December performances.

Auditioning female dancers must wear their hair in a ballet bun, a solid color leotard, ballet tights, and pink ballet shoes. If they are auditioning on pointe, dancers are asked to also bring pointe shoes. Male dancers must wear a white t-shirt, black shorts or ballet tights and black ballet shoes. All dancers should bring a headshot no larger than 4×6 (this photo will not be returned).

About Ballet Des Moines

Ballet Des Moines is a private non-profit organization based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Under the artistic direction of Serkan Usta, Ballet Des Moines launched its first professional ballet company in 2012, offering additional training opportunities for young dancers and an expanded performance season. Ballet Des Moines exists to enrich lives in the greater Des Moines area by delivering excellence in the performing arts and providing the highest level of dance education in the region. Visit balletdesmoines.org, “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @BalletDM to learn more.