St. Louis Joffrey Nutcracker auditions

Looking for 2010 St. Louis Joffrey Nutcracker audition info?

Two years ago, my daughter Max auditioned for the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker performed in St. Louis at the Fox Theatre. She made the cut and was double cast as a mouse and as a polichinelle. The polichinelles are Mother Ginger’s children. These polis, as they are called by the Joffrey, are the best and most advanced of the children dancers. It was incredibly exciting for Max, then age 12, and for us as well. If you have a small dancer, and are willing to go the extra mile, this is a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it.

Here is Max in her poli costume with the gingerbread boy, who was actually a girl!

The following email came today:

Auditions for Children’s Roles in

Dance St. Louis’ Nutcracker at the Fox

starring The Joffrey Ballet

DATE: Sunday, September 20, 2009
PLACE: Touhill Performing Arts Center– Lee Theater (West Entrance) University of Missouri-St. Louis

Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your audition time in order to register. Some dancers may need to stay through the end of the next audition time. Everyone will learn if they are cast in The Nutcracker by the end of the day.

• Noon-Audition for Dancers 4 ft.-5 inches to 5 ft. tall, ages 11-14 with five or more years ballet training

• 2 PM-Audition for Dancers 4 ft.-5 inches to 5 ft. tall, ages 9-14 with one to four years ballet training

• 4 PM-Audition for Dancers 4 ft. to 4 ft.-5 inches tall, ages 9-14 with one to four years dance (ballet, jazz or modern)

Requirements:
• No dancer may audition who is shorter than 4 feet or taller than 5 feet tall.
• Dancers must be 9 years old by September 20, 2009. Age 14 is the recommended maximum.
• Dancers must be available to rehearse every weekend (except Thanksgiving) between September 25 and

December 6. Rehearsals will be Sundays at Alexandra Ballet in Chesterfield and/or Fridays at COCA in University City. Fittings and dress rehearsals will be scheduled December 1 through 3.

• Dancers will miss school December 2 and 3 for dress rehearsals on stage.
• Performances will be December 3 through 6 at the Fox. Dancers must be available for all performances.

Audition attire: GIRLS: dark leotard, pink tights & ballet slippers. No pointe shoes. Hair should be pulled back from the face in a bun or pinned back if too short for a bun.

BOYS: Plain white tee shirt, dark tights & ballet slippers.

Please note:
• Bring a photograph (non-returnable). It need not be a ballet photo–a school photo is fine.
• There is no audition fee.
• No parents are admitted into the audition. A waiting area is provided in the Touhill lobby.

Directions: Metrolink: Exit at the UMSL North Station stop. Follow the signs to enter the Touhill and proceed to the Lee Theater.

From I-70: Take the Florissant Rd./University Blvd. exit (exit 240) south and take the first right onto University Place Drive. Make a left onto

Mark Twain Drive. Park in Lot K to the right. Enter the Touhill at the Lee Theater entrance.

From I-170: Take the Natural Bridge Road exit (exit 6). Travel east on Natural Bridge Road to West Drive. Turn left onto West Drive and follow the signs to the Touhill. Park in Lot K. Enter the Touhill at the Lee Theater entrance.

For more information, contact: Janet Brown, Dance St. Louis Director of Operations & Education

Phone: 314.289.4105 E-mail: jbrown@dancestlouis.org

Visit DANCESTLOUIS.ORG for more information about the show!