A HOLIDAY STORY INSPIRED BY THE CLASSIC BALLET - DECEMBER, 2015
More than likely, you've seen a performance of the ballet The Nutcracker at least once in your life. The now classic ballet is performed by ballet companies of all sizes, student and professional alike, across the U.S. and the world each December. The Nutcracker, set to an enchanting score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was originally created by two of classic ballet's foremost choreographers, Maruis Petipa and Lev Ivanov, in 1982 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The ballet later gained widespread popularity in the U.S. after another historic choreographer, George Balanchine, premiered a version using his own choreography on the New York City Ballet in 1954. For many of us, The Nutcracker seems like as much a necessary part of the Christmas season as are favorite Christmas carols or setting up a Christmas tree.
This December, the students from Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts' pre-professional ballet training programs will come together to perform our own take on the holiday classic. Created especially for the school by Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director Julianna Slager, Beyond the Nutcracker will include the best elements of the traditional ballet, including tutus and pointe shoes, Tchaikovsky's sensational score, and a magical journey to faraway lands. Nonetheless, Beyond the Nutcracker will take audiences on a journey in a faraway land not full of sugarplums and candy canes, but in a place where something that we often take for granted never happened: What would Christmas be like if Jesus never came? Join us for a magical Christmas dream where we will explore the true meaning of Christmas and the amazing gift of Love that is Jesus Christ.
Auditions
For the first time since Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts' first ballet production in December, 2012, we will be holding an open audition for roles in our winter production! We are very excited to open roles in Beyond the Nutcracker to student dancers in the greater Chicago area.
OPEN AUDITION
The open audition for the 2015 production of Beyond the Nutcracker will take place on Saturday, August 22 at the Ballet 5:8 studios in Frankfort, IL and is open to dancers ages 9-14. Students attending the audition should have completed or be in the process of completing at least an intermediate level of a classical ballet syllabus in a pre-professional ballet training program. Generally, this means taking ballet technique and other classes at least 2-3 days per week. Pre-registration for the audition is strongly recommended!
AUDITION SCHEDULE
Check-In
9:15-9:40am
Audition Class
9:45-11:15am
Orientation and Q&A
11:20am-12:00pm
REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES
Students auditioning to participate in Beyond the Nutcracker should be prepared to make the following commitments:
- Attend all scheduled rehearsals on Saturday afternoons between 1:00-5:00pm.
- Attend rehearsals on Tuesday nights between 6:30-8:30pm as needed (only applies to some roles; students will be notified along with audition results).
- Attend tech week rehearsals between 5:00-9:00pm, Monday-Friday and all day Saturday the week leading up to the performances.
- Attend all scheduled dress rehearsals and performances, except in the event of dancing a role that has been double-cast.
- Pay a participation fee between $85-$135 (fees vary based on roles).
- Agree to and abide by the Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts Code of Conduct during participation.
CURRENT STUDENTS
Students already attending Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts' training programs are not required to audition in order to participate in Beyond the Nutcracker. Students enrolled in Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts' Children's Dance Division ballet classes may register to participate in the performance along with their class. Students enrolled in our Pre-Professional Program automatically have the opportunity to participate in performances based on their commitment to the Student Ensemble Program.
