Unique & Wondrous Opportunity to Audition for NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet & Nutcracker Sweets Troupe
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We are offering two Nutcracker performance opportunities!
Nutcracker Dance Ensemble 2026
Nutcracker Dance Ensemble performs at Raritan Valley Community College on Friday, December 4th, 2026 at 4 pm & 8 pm.
Nutcracker Dance Ensemble Contract 2026
Nutcracker Sweets Troupe 2026
Nutcracker Sweets is an immersive theatrical experience where our Bridgewater studio is completely transformed into a magical world of dance, storytelling, lights, and holiday wonder. This year, we are thrilled to present our original production, Jack Frost and the Winter Ball which is a brand-new story created especially for our dancers. Dancers have the opportunity to learn and perform the dance they are cast in, plus opening and closing dances. The studio is transformed with theater-style seating, full stage lighting, projection, and immersive production elements, creating an intimate performance experience where the audience feels completely transported into the story. Nutcracker Sweets Troupe performs on Sunday December 13.
Nutcracker Sweets Troupe Contract 2026
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Topaz Hip-Hop/Jazz
Amethyst Ballet
Amethyst Hip-Hop/Jazz
Broadway Grades 3-5
Acro Level 2 Grades 2-4
Acro Level 3 Grades 3-5
Opal Hip-Hop/Jazz
Aqua Ballet
Aqua Hip-Hop/Jazz
Acro Beginner Preteen/Teen
Acro Intermediate Preteen/Teen
Pearl Ballet
Pearl Jazz
Peridot Ballet
Peridot Jazz
Broadway Middle/High School
Citrine Ballet
Citrine Jazz
Ruby Ballet
Ruby Pointe
Ruby Jazz
Sapphire Ballet
Sapphire Pointe
Sapphire Jazz
Emerald Ballet
Emerald Pointe
Emerald Jazz
Diamond Ballet
Diamond Pointe
Diamond Jazz
Workshop Acro
Workshop Broadway
Workshop Ballet
Workshop Pointe
Workshop Jazz
Nutcracker Dance Ensemble & Nutcracker Sweets Troupe Auditions are on Saturday, September 26th at Raritan Valley Community College
| 3:15-4:00pm- Opal Ballet, Opal HipHopJazz, Aqua Ballet, Aqua HipHop Jazz, & Aqua/Pearl Ballet |
| 4:00-4:30pm- Acro Level 2 Grades 2-4 Acro Level 3 Grades 3-5 & Acro Level 4 Grades 4 -6 |
| 4:30-5:00pm-Broadway Grades 3-5 |
| 5:00-5:45pm- Topaz Ballet, Topaz HipHopJazz, Amethyst Ballet, & Amethyst HipHopJazz |
| 5:45-6:30pm- Aqua/Pearl Ballet, Pearl Ballet, Pearl Jazz, Peridot Ballet, Peridot Jazz, Citrine Ballet, Citrine Jazz |
| 6:30-7:15pm- Acro Level 4 Grades 4-6, Acro Beginner Preteen/Teen, & Acro Intermediate Preteen/Teen, & Acro Advanced & Workshop Acro |
| 7:15-8:00pm- Ruby Ballet, Ruby Pointe, Ruby Jazz, Sapphire Ballet, Sapphire Pointe, Sapphire Jazz, Emerald Ballet, Emerald Pointe, Emerald Jazz, Diamond Ballet, Diamond Pointe, Diamond Jazz, Workshop Ballet, Workshop Pointe, Workshop Jazz |
| 8:00-8:30pm- Broadway Middle/High School & Workshop Broadway |
****(Note: Everyone who takes ballet will audition in one room and everyone who does not take ballet will audition in the other). If you take Pointe, please bring your pointe shoes****
Broadway Auditions
Broadway students are asked to prepare the below monologue and song:
The spirit of the season is that every voice can be lifted to sing with joy! Scrooge, please join the whole town in singing some holiday favorites!
Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun
It is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
HEY!
.04 seconds through .18 seconds from this link: https://youtu.be/8EJ5JRbu47Y?si=TkURfetPKR3F2RGa
How we cast for Nutcracker Dance Ensemble & Nutcracker Sweets Troupe
Nutcracker Dance Ensemble: Dancers eligible for the Nutcracker Dance Ensemble must be enrolled in one of the following classes: Topaz Ballet, Amethyst Ballet, Opal Ballet, Aqua Ballet, Aqua Hip-Hop/Jazz, Pearl Ballet, Pearl Jazz, Peridot Ballet, Peridot Jazz, Citrine Ballet, Citrine Jazz, Ruby Ballet, Ruby Pointe, Sapphire Ballet, Sapphire Pointe, Emerald Ballet, Emerald Pointe, Diamond Ballet, Diamond Pointe, Workshop Ballet, and Workshop Pointe.
There are approximately 105–115 roles available in the Ensemble. Casting for the Ensemble follows all of Magical Christmas Ballet’s strict guidelines and is determined by a combination of audition score, dancer height, and size to ensure each role is appropriately filled. Many roles are paired or have counterparts that must be closely matched, making this an important factor in the process. In addition, Magical Christmas Ballet provides pre-made costumes for each role, which must fit the dancers who are cast.
Nutcracker Sweets Troupe: Casting for the Nutcracker Sweets Troupe begins only after all Ensemble roles have been assigned. If a dancer is enrolled in one of the Ensemble-eligible classes but is not cast in the Ensemble, their audition score will automatically be reviewed for placement in the Sweets Troupe. The Sweets Troupe has more casting opportunities and welcomes dancers enrolled in a wider range of disciplines and levels, including: Topaz Ballet, Topaz Hip-Hop/Jazz, Amethyst Ballet, Amethyst Hip-Hop, Jazz, Broadway (Grades 3–5), Acro Level 2 (Grades 2–4), Acro Level 3 (Grades 3–5) | Opal Ballet, Opal Hip-Hop, Jazz, Aqua Ballet, Aqua Hip-Hop, Jazz, Acro Beginner Preteen/Teen, Acro Intermediate Preteen/Teen, Pearl Ballet, Pearl Jazz, Peridot Ballet, Peridot Jazz, Broadway Middle/High School, Citrine Ballet, Citrine Jazz, Ruby Ballet, Ruby Pointe, Ruby Jazz, Sapphire Ballet, Sapphire Pointe, Sapphire Jazz, Emerald Ballet, Emerald Pointe, Emerald Jazz Diamond Ballet, Diamond Pointe, Diamond Jazz, Workshop Acro, Workshop Broadway, Workshop Ballet, Workshop Pointe, Workshop Jazz.
This two-step process ensures that Ensemble casting is thoughtfully completed first, while also providing broad and exciting performance opportunities for dancers across multiple disciplines through the Nutcracker Sweets Troupe.
About Gotta Dance’s Nutcracker Dance Ensemble
The Nutcracker tells the tale of toys that come to life on Christmas Eve set to the iconic music composed by Peter Tchaikovsky. The recognizable story and music excite all of the participating dancers. The range of characters presented within the story allows for a wide age range to audition and perform. Some of the youngest dancers are in 2nd grade while the oldest are in their last years of high school. Most noteworthy, students love the opportunity to work and learn together in this thrilling environment outside of class.
The dancers’ cast will perform with Nutcracker Magical Christmas ballet company. It is most noteworthy that working with this company gives dancers a unique opportunity to perform advanced choreography. Through this exposure to seasoned professionals, dancers learn how to perform with joy and technical precision outside the traditional dance studio. For many Gotta Dance students, as a result, this is the first time they have had the opportunity to perform in a full-length ballet. This often inspires a lifelong passion for dance while building confidence and ballet technique. NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet has continuously recognized the skill and precision of Gotta Dance students and they are featured in the promotional DVD of the show. This video circulates around the country and is shown wherever the NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet performs.
Nutcracker Dance Ensemble 2026 Rehearsal Dates:
| Saturday, September 26th | Auditions at RVCC |
| Saturday, October 3rd | Rehearsal: Basking Ridge |
| Saturday, October 10th | Rehearsal: Basking Ridge |
| Saturday, October 17th | Rehearsal: Basking Ridge |
| Saturday, October 24th | Rehearsal: Basking Ridge |
| Tuesday, November 3rd | Rehearsal: RVCC |
| Sunday, November 8th | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Saturday, November 21st | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Sunday, November 22nd | Team Day: Bridgewater |
| Monday, November 30th | Rehearsal: RVCC |
| Wednesday, December 2nd | Rehearsal: RVCC |
| Friday, December 4th | Performance Day: RVCC |
About Gotta Dance’s Nutcracker Sweets Troupe
The Nutcracker Sweets Troupe is a performance group that envelops young dancers in a world of culture, tradition, and holiday magic. As a team, we will create cherished moments and develop discipline. This season, our dancers cast in the Nutcracker Sweets Troupe 2026 will be performing in an original, magical, and immersive experience hosted by Gotta Dance on Saturday, December 12th and/or Sunday, December 13th at our transformed Bridgewater studio.
Nutcracker Sweets 2026 Rehearsal Dates:
| Saturday September 26th | Auditions at RVCC |
| Saturday October 3rd | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Saturday October 10th | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Saturday October 17th | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Saturday October 24th | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Sunday November 1st | Rehearsal: Martinsville |
| Saturday November 14th | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Saturday November 21st | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Sunday, November 22nd | Rehearsal: Bridgewater |
| Saturday December 6th | Team Day: Bridgewater |
| Saturday December 12th or Sunday December 13th | Show Day: Bridgewater |
