City Ballet School Performances

The Nutcracker

We invite all young dancers ages 6 through 18 to audition for our 29th annual production of The Nutcracker. As our beloved home theater, the historic Spreckels Theatre, undergoes renovations, we will be performing this holiday classic at the beautiful California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Performances

There will be five performances: Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 7:30 pm, Friday, December 22 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and Saturday, December 23 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm.

The City Ballet Orchestra, John Nettles conducting, will perform live at all public performances.

Nutcracker Auditions

Audition Registration

Due Friday, September 15^th, 2023

We ask that you pre-register for the Saturday, September 16 auditions. Please email the completed form to school@cityballet.org by Friday, September 15, 2023.

Auditions

Saturday, September 16^th, 2023

3:00pm for ages 6 to 8
4:00pm for ages 9 to 12
5:00pm for ages 13 and up

Audition and Rehearsals Location

City Ballet School
941 Garnet Ave (South Alley Entrance)
San Diego, CA 92109

To keep the number of people at a minimum during the auditions, we ask that children be dropped off in time for their scheduled audition time and be picked up promptly 45 minutes later. This will minimize overlapping of groups.

At the audition, each participant will receive a Nutcracker Registration Packet which includes important information and forms which must be returned to City Ballet promptly. Return forms in PDF format by email to: school@cityballet.org, or return them at the front desk. All forms are due by September 30^th. Rehearsals will take place on weekends beginning September 30^th.

Parent Orientation

An orientation video will be available on City Ballet’s YouTube channel for all parents and guardians. The link will be emailed to you after the audition.

Everyone must watch the orientation video.

If you have not received the link by your first day of rehearsal, please check your spam/junk mail folder, and let us know if you need it sent again.

Policies and procedures may be different this year from previous Nutcracker productions. Be certain you have watched the updated video for the 2023 Nutcracker.

After viewing the orientation video, you may email school@cityballet.org with any questions.

Performance Fee

Due Saturday, Sept 30^th, 2023

A $250 performance fee is due to City Ballet no later than Saturday, September 30, 2023. Parents volunteering to assist backstage are eligible to pay only $150.

Communications

We will use the email address(es) provided on the Audition Registration Form to communicate with parents and dancers regarding this year’s Nutcracker production. Make certain your email provider accepts emails from school@cityballet.org so these important emails don’t end up in your spam folder.

Commitment

To maintain City Ballet’s reputation for quality productions, a strong commitment is expected from all our dancers. To properly prepare for such a production, all dancers must attend all scheduled rehearsals, including technical rehearsals at the theater. Any missed rehearsals may result in dismissal from the production.

Casting

Careful attention is given to casting by the artistic staff. Cast list will be emailed and posted at City Ballet by September 30^th. If you do not attend your first scheduled rehearsal, we will understand that you have decided not to participate in our production.
ALL ROLES ARE FINAL AND NOT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.

We look forward to you being a part of City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, recipient of the Tommy Award for the Best Nutcracker in San Diego. The San Diego Union-Tribune is quoted as saying a “full and handsome production with opulent sets and costumes” and “a plum of a Nutcracker.” Our production lives up to these praises with elegant costumes and elaborate sets designed by our favorite designer David Heuvel, a world-class designer who creates costumes for world-class companies and dancers all over the world. The entire production has a Russian look to it which perfectly complements the choreography after the concepts of Lev Ivanov, the great Russian who created the very first Nutcracker in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892.

Annual All School Performance

Students in the Pre/Kinder level through Pre-Professional Ballet 6 and Studio Company levels studying at the City Ballet School are invited to participate in the annual school performance. Dancers will show what they have been learning in classes all year and perform specially choreographed ballets designed to show their technical and artistic abilities.

City Ballet Family Ballet Series presents:

Coppélia and the Toymaker

Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 4:00pm
The Joan B Kroc Theater
6611 University Avenue
San Diego, 92115

Dance is a performing art and it is important for students to have the experience of learning choreography for a presentation. The ballet pieces will be specially created by Elizabeth Wistrich and City Ballet School staff. The performance is also a part of City Ballet’s Family Ballet Series.

Students in Pre/Kinder Ballet through Ballet 3 will learn their dance presentations in their regularly scheduled classes during the 3^rd and 4^th quarters. Ballet 4, Ballet 5, Ballet 6, and Studio Company students will rehearse on Saturdays between the hours of 1:30 to 6:00 pm beginning February 10, 2024. Additional rehearsals will be held for all levels on Sat. May 11, Sat. May 18, and Sun. May 19 before the performance at 4:00 pm

There will be no auditions – but students must sign up by January 31, 2024.

Each student will receive 2 complimentary tickets to the performance. Additional tickets may be purchased at City Ballet or at the door on performance day.

Each student will receive a video link of the complete performance.

Kroc Theatre Seating Chart

Performance Fee, Costume Fee, and Commitment Form

$75 Costume Fee is due by Wednesday, January 31^st, 2024
and
$150 Performance Fee is due by Thursday, February 29^th, 2024.

To be included in the performance, and in order for costumes to arrive in time, each student must return a commitment form with their dancewear sizes indicated and the $75 costume fee by January 31^st. A performance fee of $150 which helps cover the production costs (theater rental, theater staff, technical assistance, filming costs, insurance, etc.) is due by Feb. 29^th.

Each student will also be required to provide their own tights and ballet shoes in performance condition.

Commitment Forms will be emailed to all registered students in January 2024. If you have not received yours by January 20^th, please check your spam folder. Email school@cityballet.org to request a form.

Email forms in PDF format to: school@cityballet.org

Payment may be made with credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) by calling 858-274-6058 or 858-272-8663, M-Th from 10-6 pm, or you may pay fees with check, cash, or credit card at the front desk.

Communications

We will use the email address(es) provided on the Commitment Form to communicate with parents and dancers regarding this year’s School Performance production. Make certain your email provider accepts emails from school@cityballet.org and these important emails don’t end up in your spam folder.

To maintain City Ballet’s reputation for quality productions, a strong commitment is expected from all our dancers and parents. To properly prepare for such a production, all dancers must attend all scheduled rehearsals, including the dress rehearsal at the theater. It is necessary to notify the school if you will miss a rehearsal. Any unexcused missed rehearsals may result in dismissal from the production.

Questions?

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact City Ballet School Office by email at school@cityballet.org.