Virtual Nutcracker Local Participant Program
Canada’s Ballet Jörgen is thrilled to be running a Virtual Nutcracker LP Program as a part of the Twelve Days of Nutcracker! Participation in this program is through audition. Students will participate in weekly rehearsals, via Zoom, with CBJ Rehearsal Directors to learn choreography and be a part of a series of pre-recorded sections of The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition.
Audition Information
Sunday, November 1, 2020
12:00-4:00pm EST
Zoom (link sent once registration is confirmed)
Audition time slots will be split by age group (ages 8-11, 12-14 & 15+). Upon registration, students will receive their audition details, time slot, and Zoom link.
Rehearsal Information
View a rehearsal schedule HERE.
Rehearsals will take place on Sundays throughout November and into December. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
Rehearsal attendance is mandatory.
The Nutcracker Local Participant Program gives young dancers the opportunity to perform with a professional dance company! They interact with professional dancers and gain invaluable performance experience as they dance roles in Canada’s Ballet Jörgen’s The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition.
Audition Information
General Requirements
- Aged 8 – 17 years
- Dance training required, ballet is an asset
How to Register
Students interested in auditioning must register for a specific audition by filling out our online registration form. You will hear back from us to confirm your exact audition time and Zoom login details. Registrants are organized into time slots based on age groups.
How the Audition Works
There is no need to prepare a dance piece nor bring a portfolio or bio to the audition. Students should wear the dance clothes normally worn at their local dance classes. We ask that you please have enough space to do a pique arabesque and jumping jacks in a circle. You will be asked to dance choreography that we teach you. The CBJ audition leader will be looking at each dancer’s ability to learn the choreography and deliver it with the desired technique, musicality and performance quality. Preliminary selections will be made from each age group and asked to return for the “Selected Audition”. The Selected Audition directly follows the last age group audition on the audition day. Dancers will be asked to repeat certain choreography and possibly learn some new choreography while being further assessed on their ability to perform and apply corrections. The final cast will be selected from this group. Parents/Guardians will be sent a participant permission form to fill out. After this point, cast members are expected at all scheduled rehearsals based on the roles they have been assigned, any absences will have consequences that can lead to being removed from the cast.
Important Information
Participants who are selected to perform are required to attend all mandatory weekly rehearsals.
All cast members must be available for the recording day on Sunday, December 6.
How the Program Works
- All participants are selected at an audition which takes place via Zoom. Students register in advance to audition.
- After completing your online registration, you will be contacted individually with an exact audition time based on the student’s age.
- Once the cast is selected at the audition, specific roles are assigned and choreography rehearsals ensue. All the show choreography is taught by the CBJ repetiteur.
- The choreography will be recorded on Sunday, December 6. The schedule is TBD but will be shared shortly.
Virtual Youth Cast Roles in The Nutcracker, a Canadian Tradition
Roles to be cast at the audition:
| Roles | # to be Cast | Approximate Heights | Approximate Ages in the Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frog | 2-4 | 4’ – 4’10” | 8 - 11 yrs |
| Chipmunk | 4-8 | 4’5” – 5’3" | 10 - 13 yrs |
| Squirrel | 4-8 | 5’2” -5’6” | 12 - 16 yrs |
| Dragonfly | 2-4 | 5’3” + | 14 -17 yrs |
| School House Children | 4-8 | 4’5” – 5’6” | 12-17 yrs |
Testimonials
My daughter was in the production here in Charlottetown, but even if she was not chosen to be in it, it was still a wonderful show. I must also thank you for including local talent in your show. I can speak for the other parents and their children and say that the experience they had being a part of your show was just amazing. The girls all had a great time rehearsing and a very good experience the day of the show. Thank you very much for giving them the opportunity to be part of something very special. We hope to see you again on our Island.
Heather Ross
Charlottetown, PEI
I just wanted to tell you how much [my daughter] enjoyed being a part of your Nutcracker production and how much we enjoyed watching it. I was really impressed with the beauty of the show; at times my breath was literally taken away. I was proud that my daughter was a part of such a high calibre production. The way you let the local children have a good amount of stage time and their own special bow was very much appreciated.
Jane Wheeler,
Fredricton, NB
My daughter was very fortunate to be chosen to play one of the frogs in the ballet. She loved having the opportunity to gain more experience in dance. Thanks once again.
The Woollacott Family
Peterborough, ON
I have been dancing since I was three years old and the opportunity to be a small part of the Nutcracker is the highlight of all my years of taking ballet. It was fantastic watching such great dancers up close and this will be an experience I will never forget.
Local Cast Member
CBJ’s Appropriate Physical Contact in Dance Policy
Please view the document below for the policy
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For program information, please contact Clea Iveson
education@balletjorgen.ca or 416-415-5000 x 4928