TWSB Nutcracker Rehearsal Schedule

[Anonymous]

Can someone give me an idea of what the nutcracker rehearsal schedule has looked like in prior years? Just trying to get a sense, so I can gauge availability for other activities during the fall. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Keep every weekend from early October until late December free though mornings are usually free. That means no travel. The rehearsals are not that long, but times won’t be announced until after auditions and change throughout the rehearsal period. Once shows start, expect anything between 6-15/18 performances, depending on casting. You have to stick around in town for all other shows in awe your kid gets called in at the last minute (they are each other’s backups). Shows run from Thanksgiving until just before the end of December. It’s a huge commitment, and we no longer do it because of the constraints it puts in the family schedule. It’s funny to do a few times when they are younger and have fewer demands in their time, but participation has no impact on their evaluations or progression in TWSB. There are several top dancers in the school that don’t do the Nutcracker but audition for other WSB performances later in the year.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info! I was aware of the weekend commitment and we’re prepared for that, I just wasn’t sure about the length of time of the rehearsals each weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the info! I was aware of the weekend commitment and we’re prepared for that, I just wasn’t sure about the length of time of the rehearsals each weekend.

NP: We are about to start our 5th Nutcracker year.

The time of the weekend rehearsals is not long - but it will vary depending on role they are dancing. And as groups and casts are made they will typically get longer. It makes planning other things difficult because the times of the rehearsals will fluctuate thought the season as they get closer to the show. And I will echo, no traveling over the holidays, the kids MUST be available to perform all shows

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the info! I was aware of the weekend commitment and we’re prepared for that, I just wasn’t sure about the length of time of the rehearsals each weekend.

NP: We are about to start our 5th Nutcracker year.

The time of the weekend rehearsals is not long - but it will vary depending on role they are dancing. And as groups and casts are made they will typically get longer. It makes planning other things difficult because the times of the rehearsals will fluctuate thought the season as they get closer to the show. And I will echo, no traveling over the holidays, the kids MUST be available to perform all shows

Thanks for this! We have never traveled during the fall/winter, so the schedule works for our plans (or lack thereof). We’ve always spent the holidays here in DC, so that part isn’t an issue. I am basically just trying to coordinate some driving for my other kid and wondered what additional help I might need based on the length of the rehearsals etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the info! I was aware of the weekend commitment and we’re prepared for that, I just wasn’t sure about the length of time of the rehearsals each weekend.

NP: We are about to start our 5th Nutcracker year.

The time of the weekend rehearsals is not long - but it will vary depending on role they are dancing. And as groups and casts are made they will typically get longer. It makes planning other things difficult because the times of the rehearsals will fluctuate thought the season as they get closer to the show. And I will echo, no traveling over the holidays, the kids MUST be available to perform all shows

Thanks for this! We have never traveled during the fall/winter, so the schedule works for our plans (or lack thereof). We’ve always spent the holidays here in DC, so that part isn’t an issue. I am basically just trying to coordinate some driving for my other kid and wondered what additional help I might need based on the length of the rehearsals etc.

gotcha, unfortunately you wont know until after casting happens.
How old is your kiddo?
I feel like when DD was little - like PB 3 - the rehearsals were 45 minutes. just long enough to be annoying that you can drop off and pick up, but not really do anything in between. But old kids and bigger parts = longer rehearsals, which was actually easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the info! I was aware of the weekend commitment and we’re prepared for that, I just wasn’t sure about the length of time of the rehearsals each weekend.

NP: We are about to start our 5th Nutcracker year.

The time of the weekend rehearsals is not long - but it will vary depending on role they are dancing. And as groups and casts are made they will typically get longer. It makes planning other things difficult because the times of the rehearsals will fluctuate thought the season as they get closer to the show. And I will echo, no traveling over the holidays, the kids MUST be available to perform all shows

Thanks for this! We have never traveled during the fall/winter, so the schedule works for our plans (or lack thereof). We’ve always spent the holidays here in DC, so that part isn’t an issue. I am basically just trying to coordinate some driving for my other kid and wondered what additional help I might need based on the length of the rehearsals etc.

gotcha, unfortunately you wont know until after casting happens.
How old is your kiddo?

Ugh yep — PB3! I’m happy that she won’t be there all day, but 45 minutes will be annoying. Doesn’t give you long enough to go be productive. Ah well, I think she’ll enjoy (or at least I hope she will — she’s looking forward to the audition).
I feel like when DD was little - like PB 3 - the rehearsals were 45 minutes. just long enough to be annoying that you can drop off and pick up, but not really do anything in between. But old kids and bigger parts = longer rehearsals, which was actually easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the info! I was aware of the weekend commitment and we’re prepared for that, I just wasn’t sure about the length of time of the rehearsals each weekend.

NP: We are about to start our 5th Nutcracker year.

The time of the weekend rehearsals is not long - but it will vary depending on role they are dancing. And as groups and casts are made they will typically get longer. It makes planning other things difficult because the times of the rehearsals will fluctuate thought the season as they get closer to the show. And I will echo, no traveling over the holidays, the kids MUST be available to perform all shows

Thanks for this! We have never traveled during the fall/winter, so the schedule works for our plans (or lack thereof). We’ve always spent the holidays here in DC, so that part isn’t an issue. I am basically just trying to coordinate some driving for my other kid and wondered what additional help I might need based on the length of the rehearsals etc.

gotcha, unfortunately you wont know until after casting happens.
How old is your kiddo?
I feel like when DD was little - like PB 3 - the rehearsals were 45 minutes. just long enough to be annoying that you can drop off and pick up, but not really do anything in between. But old kids and bigger parts = longer rehearsals, which was actually easier.

Ugh yep — PB3! I’m happy that she won’t be there all day, but 45 minutes will be annoying. Doesn’t give you long enough to go be productive. Ah well, I think she’ll enjoy (or at least I hope she will — she’s looking forward to the audition).

[Anonymous]

Auditions are September 17 and 18 this year? That totally feels early!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Auditions are September 17 and 18 this year? That totally feels early!

Yes — I thought the same! Can anyone give a brief rundown in terms of how the audition is organized?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Auditions are September 17 and 18 this year? That totally feels early!

Yes — I thought the same! Can anyone give a brief rundown in terms of how the audition is organized?

They will break it down into hunks of time based on level.

The kids go into a separate space, they teach them a few little steps - varies on how old they are.
And then they perform.
for the littles it more of a formality to see how they can hold themselves and follow instructions.

Then we all come home to DCUM and wring our hands over what role our kids may have gotten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Auditions are September 17 and 18 this year? That totally feels early!

Yes — I thought the same! Can anyone give a brief rundown in terms of how the audition is organized?

They will break it down into hunks of time based on level.

The kids go into a separate space, they teach them a few little steps - varies on how old they are.
And then they perform.
for the littles it more of a formality to see how they can hold themselves and follow instructions.

Then we all come home to DCUM and wring our hands over what role our kids may have gotten.

Lol thx so much!

[Anonymous]

I think the early start time is due to earlier performances this year and having October 8th & 9th off for Indigenous Peoples Weekend.

Rehearsals are consistent, typically early afternoon and last minute changes are rare. I believe this year is the first year without Donna Glover although I did see her name on the website as Nutcracker Coordinator, so someone please correct me that I'm wrong!!! I'm sorry to say, I don't believe that it'll run as smoothly without her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the early start time is due to earlier performances this year and having October 8th & 9th off for Indigenous Peoples Weekend.

Rehearsals are consistent, typically early afternoon and last minute changes are rare. I believe this year is the first year without Donna Glover although I did see her name on the website as Nutcracker Coordinator, so someone please correct me that I'm wrong!!! I'm sorry to say, I don't believe that it'll run as smoothly without her.

I would love it if she was still there, but we gave her a big goodbye last year, so I suspect its just not updated.
I agree, she was the glue, I don;'t how its going to go without her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the early start time is due to earlier performances this year and having October 8th & 9th off for Indigenous Peoples Weekend.

Rehearsals are consistent, typically early afternoon and last minute changes are rare. I believe this year is the first year without Donna Glover although I did see her name on the website as Nutcracker Coordinator, so someone please correct me that I'm wrong!!! I'm sorry to say, I don't believe that it'll run as smoothly without her.

Really? TWSB closes in honor of that October federal holiday?