Nutcracker 2025
NUTCRACKER ELIGIBILITY
Petaluma School of Ballet has produced a full length Nutcracker for 38 years, a community favorite!
To participate in Nutcracker 2025:
1. Dancers must be 6 years old on or before 7/1/25
2. Dancers must have taken continuous ballet classes for the the Spring and Fall semesters prior to Nutcracker at Petaluma School of Ballet.
3. Tuition must be current.
4. Dancers must have taken required summer training. Required summer classes must be taken at PSB unless other arrangements are approved by the school director.
If your dancer meets the above criteria, they are eligible to participate in Petaluma School of Ballet's production of The Nutcracker 2025. The last step is to enroll in Nutcracker 2025
PERFORMANCES
This year, we will hold six performances at Evert B. Person Theatre at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA.
Thursday December 11th - 2 performances, times TBD* (Performers will need to miss school for part of the day. This performance will be a shortened version for local school children)
Friday December 12th at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 13th at 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM
Sunday, December 14th at 1:30 PM
AUDITIONS
All dancers must audition in order to participate in Nutcracker 2025. This is a casting audition and all dancers who audition will be cast in a role. This gives our artistic staff the opportunity to assess each dancer in order to best cast the production. Casting is at the sole discretion of the Artistic Directors. Our costumer will also be on hand to take each dancer's measurements as the first step in costume fitting.
Audition Dates & Times:
Sat. 8/23 - Times TBD
Primary Division Academy Division, CD-1 & CD-2
Wed. 8/26 - Times TBD
CD-3, CD-4, CD-5
COMMUNICATION
Most of our communications will occur by email, so please be sure we have your current email address listed on file.
REHEARSALS
Primary Division dancers will typically have 1 rehearsal per week, Academy Division dancers can expect 1-2 rehearsals per week, and Conservatory Division dancers can expect 2-3 rehearsals per week. As we get closer to Theatre Week we may add longer, additional rehearsals as needed. Dancers must be available for rehearsals on Saturdays as well as during the week.
After casting has been determined, rehearsal schedules will be posted on the bulletin board in the PSB lobby and on a special Nutcracker Cast website. Access to the Nutcracker Cast website will be emailed out after auditions.
Young dancers should be encouraged to look at the board each time they come to the studio, as rehearsal schedules may change. We do our best to provide rehearsal schedules as far in advance as possible, but please remember it is always subject to change.
Three Strikes…
We have a “three-strikes, you’re out” policy when it comes to Nutcracker rehearsals.
· First missed rehearsal: Make sure you let the office know in advance via email (petballet110@yahoo.com or through the Parent Portal)
· Second missed rehearsal: An understudy will be assigned to your part
· Third missed rehearsal: You lose your part to your understudy
It is crucial that dancers and their families make attendance at rehearsals a priority. We only have a short period of time to put our production together. Many dancers work in groups and it makes it difficult for the others in your group if not everyone is there to work with.
THEATRE WEEK
Our backstage crew will load into the theatre starting Sunday 12/8. Tech and Dress rehearsals will be Monday, 12/9, Tuesday 12/10, and Wednesday 12/11. Tech and Dress rehearsals can be late nights and long rehearsals. While we try to get our youngest dancers out as early as possible, the reality of live theatre is that sometimes we run late. We want all our dancers to be confident in their dancing and proud of their time on stage and sometimes achieving this takes us later than we anticipate.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This is a serious professional level production with many children as cast members – this should not to be confused with a ‘children’s’ show! All performers are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and show respect for each other, the choreographers and other members of the production team.
There will be a MANDATORY meeting for parents at the studio on Saturday August 23rd (Time TBD).
CASTING ASSIGNMENTS
We will have 2 casts for several parts and strive to give as many dancers as possible the chance to perform. Performance assignments will generally be posted before Thanksgiving.
PERFORMANCE FEES
Primary Division Dancers - $225
Academy Division Dancers - $250
Conservatory Division Dancers - $275
A deposit of $85 will be run when dancers sign up. 2 additional payments will be charged automatically to the credit card on file on 9/1 and 10/1. All dancers pay a performance fee to help defray costuming and production costs. The performance fee includes the cost of a Nutcracker 2025 shirt for all performers. There are no deposit refunds once we've held casting auditions. Please designate your dancer’s shirt size in the parent portal.
To designate your performing dancer's t-shirt size:
Log in to the PSB parent portal
Click the three horizontal lines in the upper right hand corner
Click account
Click on the performing dancer
Click the pencil icon
Select the preferred t-shirt size
Make sure to save!
Performance tickets, program congratulatory lines, cast photos, cast flowers, pasta feed items and recordings of the performance will be available for an additional cost.
PRODUCTION COMMITTEES – Be Part of the Excitement!
In order for the entire production to run smoothly we need help from ALL families! Primary Division families must work 1 production committee. Academy and Conservatory Division families must work 2 production committees. Committee opportunities range from Backstage Crew, to staffing the Nutcracker Boutique and Flower tables, to assisting during photos and helping at the Pasta Feed. Committee signups will happen through signup genius after the Mandatory Parent Meeting
We Hope You Will Be Part of the Nutcracker Magic!
Thank you in advance for your participation in NUTCRACKER 2025! This is a wonderful experience for all involved. It is a great team building activity as well as an important part of dance training for our students. Please assist us in our marketing efforts to sell tickets and program ads. Full houses benefit the studio, inspire the performers and uplift the community at the beginning of the holiday season!
Dancers can sign-up to participate in Nutcracker 2025 through the parent portal (Search the class list for Nutcracker 2025), by emailing or calling the office, or stopping in to the front desk. The deadline for participants to sign up is Sunday 8/10.
If you have any questions, please email us at petballet110@yahoo.com.