Rehearsals will begin Saturday, October 3 for Party Scene and Battle Scene dancers, and will start Saturday, October 10 for all other roles. Rehearsals will take place every Saturday through the production with the exception of October 24 and November 28. A detailed rehearsal schedule can be found in the QUICK LINKS section.

Each dancer is required to have a family member age 18+ fill at least two volunteer slots during the Nutcracker rehearsal or performance dates. Can't fit in your schedule? We understand. Buy-out options will be available. Volunteer sign-up and buy-out options coming soon!

Listed on our rehearsal schedule, please note these key dates:

• 10/24: No rehearsal

• 11/7: Costume Fittings

• 11/14: Costume Fittings

• 11/28: No rehearsal

• 12/5: Required in-studio full run - modified schedule TBA

• 12/7-12/9 Tech Week

• BLUE CAST (12/10 at 7pm, 12/12 at 2pm, 12/13 at 5pm)

• YELLOW CAST (12/11 at 7pm, 12/12 at 7pm, 12/13 at 1pm)

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure rehearsals leading up to The Nutcracker productions are a priority. However, we understand that illness and emergencies may arise. Please discuss your availability and/or needs as early as they arise with our Trainee and Youth Director, Erin Arndorfer and Campus and Community Programs manager, Nick Rice. They can be reached at erin@balletdesmoines.org and nick@balletdesmoines.org.

Dancers should be dropped off at the main entrance of the Ballet Des Moines campus, near the corner of 6th Avenue and Walnut Street. Street parking and paid garage parking are available nearby if you would like to walk your dancer onto campus. The loading zones on 6th and 7th Avenues are also convenient for quick drop-off.

All dancers should arrive at Nutcracker rehearsals dressed and ready to dance.

Girls: Leotard, tights, and ballet or pointe shoes. Hair should be secured neatly in a bun and kept out of the face.

Boys: Black tights or shorts, a solid black or white T-shirt, and black ballet shoes. Hair should be neatly combed and kept out of the face.

Nonbinary dancers may select whichever option feels more comfortable to them.

If you are in the Party Scene for the Blue Cast, we recommend you come to the 1pm tea, and if you are the Party Scene for the Yellow Cast, we recommend coming to the 3pm tea. If you are in any other scene in Nutcracker, you may go to either Nutcracker Tea- we just ask that you email Erin and Nick to let them know you will have a late check-in backstage (please be backstage 15 minutes prior to the show at the latest).