NUTCRACKER 2026
CHIDREN'S AUDITION INFORMATION
BOYS and GIRLS 6 YEARS OF AGE and OLDER
Turning 6 by August 1st, 2026 and attending 1st Grade.

3 EASY STEPS!

1. Registration: Click below to access and download
the pre-registration form*
*Complete your pre-registration form at home.
 

One form required, per child

2. Pre-register in person (takes 10 minutes): includes a $20.00 registration fee per child

• Who can Audition? Boys & Girls ages 6 and older (Turning 6 by August 1, 2026 & attending 1st grade)

• Choose ONE of the following days to pre-register: August 11-14, 17-19, anytime between the hours of 3:30pm–5:30pm

• Where: CWB Office, 5039 Pentecost Dr, Suite A (At the corner of Pentecost & Kiernan Avenue)

• IMPORTANT: Every child must attend the pre-registration in person with a parent/guardian. 16 and older may register themselves. There will be one measurement taken for height.
(No performing or dancing on this day)

• Parents/Guardians, when you come to our office*:
1) bring anyone that is auditioning with you.
2) a completed pre-registration form.
3) a wallet-sized headshot of the person auditioning.
4) $20.00 registration fee per child, cash or check payable to Central West Ballet (reg. fee is non-refundable).

*After you complete your pre-registration, you will be given an exact time to return for the Audition of Saturday, August 22 . Roles are cast by skill, coordination and height, not necessarily by age. All performers must fit into existing costumes. Some roles are non-dancing and we encourage everyone to come out and try!
 

3. Audition Day

• When: Saturday, August 22, 2026

• Where: CWB Studios - 5039 Pentecost Drive, 95356 (off Kiernan Avenue) - there are 3 studios, you will be assigned your studio location at pre-registration.

• Day of Audition: Arrive at your assigned time, go to your designated curbside check-in, those auditioning should arrive dressed and ready to go. No one is admitted after audition begins. Audition is closed to viewing. Everyone learns the steps together. No preparation is required.

• Girl’s dance attire: Leotard, tights, ballet shoes, hair in bun. No jewelry.

• Boy’s dance attire: T-shirt, tights, ballet or jazz shoes.

• No Dance Experience? No problem! Anything you can move in, gym clothes, sweats, leggings, t-shirts, sneakers.

• Mandatory Commitments & Casting: If accepted, all scheduled parent meetings, rehearsals and costume fittings are mandatory. You can list your casting preference on your form, however casting is very complicated and you may be placed in another cast. Siblings will be cast together.

• Audition Results will be emailed by these dates: Sept. 1 & 2 - Great care is taken in selecting your child’s part, casting is final and non-negotiable. Please do not email, text or call CWB, a teacher or a staff member regarding the role your child receives.

Casting Disclaimer: There is a chance your child will repeat a role they have done before. This is not a reflection of their progress or lack of progress from last year but rather your child still checks all the boxes for that role. Remember: Every role matters for the success of the production!

• Accepted: Please save your acceptance email. It will contain information you will need to access the online Master Rehearsal Schedule and Handbook. This information is password protected and your password will be include in your acceptance email.

• Try Again! With Parental Support If your child is not accepted, please know we did our best. Casting is done with thought, care, compassion and is non-biased. At the audition, children may be too young, too nervous, too inexperienced and not quite ready for the audition process. Or, you may have listed one or many conflicts on your registration form that we are unable to accommodate. We recommend that you have this discussion prior to them auditionning. If they are not accepted this year it does not mean that they won't be accepted another year. We encourage everyone to try again!
 

PARENTAL PERFORMER INFORMATION (If accepted, all dates listed in RED are Mandatory)

• Sept. 1 & 2: If accepted, you will receive (2 documents) to access online, 1. Master Handbook & 2. Rehearsal Schedule, download and print all documents at home. Documents are password protected, password is confidential and in your acceptance letter.

• Thursday Sept. 3 • 7:15-8:00pm: Parent Meeting: Robbins Studio, 5039 Pentecost Drive (Suite between SafeLite and Cannon’s Tumbling).

• Print both documents at home, in color, text in color is easier to follow, bring with you, questions ready.

• DUE: 2 Parent Contracts - Please sign and date both, located in the back of your Handbook.

• DUE: Participation Fee - Each performer is assessed a $75.00 participation fee. Paid in full at the meeting. This fee helps cover the cost of rehearsal directors, costume cleaning & costume repair. Fee is nonrefundable. Additional costs range from $60.00-$120.00 per role. These costs will be due in October and can include professional theatre make-up, leotards, shoes, socks, tights. All items will be purchased at The Dance Bag and become the property of the dancer after their last performance.

• Only one parent or family member attends this meeting, no performers. We will review the requirements of the 2026 Master Handbook & Policies and Procedures Manual.

• Saturday Sept 12: Some groups begin rehearsals this day. Other groups will begin rehearals later in September. All groups rehearse in October and November. (Refer to online Rehearsal Schedule for precise scheduling).

Studio Rehearsals: Studio rehearsals are broken down by day/hour and will be scheduled sometime between 6:00-9:00pm Monday-Friday, Saturday between 8:00am-5:00pm. On Nov. 11 Veterans Day, rehearsals will be scheduled. (Please refer to the online Rehearsal Schedule for precise scheduling. No studio rehearsals on Sundays).

• Monday Oct. 5: Parent volunteer sign-ups will be available online and will continue to be online until December. Any changes can be done online.

• October 12-17: No Rehearsals.

• October 26-31: No Rehearsals.
 

Tracy Cast : Theatre Location: Grand Theatre Center for the Arts 715 Central Avenue, Tracy, CA

• For those dancing in Tracy, you will have Modesto studio rehearsals before and after Thanksgiving, 11/23-24, 11/27-28, 30. There is no rehearsal 11/25-26.

• Nov. 30: Studio Rehearsal at CWB (approximately 6:00pm-8:30pm)

• Dec. 1-3: Dress Rehearsals (approximately 6:00pm-9:00pm)

• Dec. 4: School Performances (Act 1 only), 12:00pm & 2:00pm (CWB will notify your school for excused absence).

• Dec. 4: 8:00pm, Performance #1

• Dec. 4: 1:00pm, Performance #2
 

Gallo • Cast A : Theatre Location: Gallo Center for the Arts 1000 I Street, Modesto, CA

• Sun. Dec. 6: MANDATORY Spacing (between 11:00am-6:00pm, CHECK your Rehearsal Schedule Handbook).

• Dec. 7: Dress Rehearsal (4:30pm-8:30pm).

• Dec. 8: OFF

• Dec. 9: Dress Rehearsal (4:30pm-8:30pm).

• Dec. 10: OFF.

• Dec. 11: 7:00pm, Performance #1

• Dec. 12: 2:00pm & 7:00pm, Performances #2 & #3
 

Gallo • Cast B : Theatre Location: Gallo Center for the Arts 1000 I Street, Modesto, CA

• Sun. Dec. 6: MANDATORY Spacing (between 11:00am-6:00pm, CHECK your Rehearsal Schedule Handbook).

• Dec. 7: OFF

• Dec. 8: Cast B Dress Rehearsal (4:30pm-8:30pm)

• Dec. 9: School Shows (Act 1 only): 10:00am and 12:00pm shows.

• Dec. 10: Dress Rehearsal (4:30pm-8:30pm).

• Dec. 11 & 12: OFF

• Dec. 13: 2:00pm, Performance #1

• Dec. 14 & 15: OFF

• Dec. 16: Dress Rehearsal *excerpts, possibly not a full dress (4:30pm-8:30pm).

• Dec. 17-18: OFF

• Dec. 19: 2:00pm & 7:00pm, Performances #2 & #3

• Dec. 20: 2:00pm, Performance #4
 

We want to answer your questions! Call at 209-576-8957 or Email at info@centralwestballet.org