TWSB Nutcracker 2023!

[Anonymous]

This is the first year DD has seemed open to ANY role. She was dying for Party Girl 1A - 3 and now that those years are behind her, she seems so relaxed and open hearted to whatever role she gets. I love it!

[Anonymous]

I don’t think the path is necessarily much of an indicator? But she was a mushroom, cherry blossom (discontinued but I hope they bring them back - I love the costume and how the stage looks at the opening of Act 2 with the full complement of kids), and mouse (twice including pandemic year). She was L3 last year. We guessed fitting the costume was a part of it and she does have big clown energy even outside the context of TWSB Nutcracker 😂

[Anonymous]

Hijacking the thread to ask whether there were auditions for the kids’ roles in Ballet West’s Nutcracker at the Kennedy center. Can WSB kids try out? If not, who usually fills these parts? (Solely curious - my kid hates ballet. But I have the fondest memories of dancing children’s roles with Ballet West a million years ago.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the path is necessarily much of an indicator? But she was a mushroom, cherry blossom (discontinued but I hope they bring them back - I love the costume and how the stage looks at the opening of Act 2 with the full complement of kids), and mouse (twice including pandemic year). She was L3 last year. We guessed fitting the costume was a part of it and she does have big clown energy even outside the context of TWSB Nutcracker 😂

Lol. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the cherry blossoms, so now I’m curious! Hopefully they will bring them back. I think DD would be thrilled with any role honestly and it’s so hard to know what factors are considered when casting roles. She was a mushroom last year and loves that, in theory, she has more possible role options. We’ll see! The wait seems so long. Good luck to your dancer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hijacking the thread to ask whether there were auditions for the kids’ roles in Ballet West’s Nutcracker at the Kennedy center. Can WSB kids try out? If not, who usually fills these parts? (Solely curious - my kid hates ballet. But I have the fondest memories of dancing children’s roles with Ballet West a million years ago.)

The BW audition was at the Kennedy Center on September 13 or so. They auditioned kids from all over the area, which I assume included some TWSB dancers who prefer to dance in the shorter Kennedy Center Nutcracker production run.

[Anonymous]

DD was a clown at L3 last year - but has grown a few inches since, so thinks she might be too tall now.
Was Mushroom, Snow Angel, Soldier x2 (pandemic) and clown.
Totally had her heart set on party girl for years, but I think clown fixed her of that

[Anonymous]

Anyone can audition when there are visiting companies at the Kennedy Center. It’s a phenomenal experience for young dancers who get to dance on stage; less so for alternates from what I’ve seen. You can get on the list by emailing [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was a clown at L3 last year - but has grown a few inches since, so thinks she might be too tall now.
Was Mushroom, Snow Angel, Soldier x2 (pandemic) and clown.
Totally had her heart set on party girl for years, but I think clown fixed her of that

Clown is an awesome role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was a clown at L3 last year - but has grown a few inches since, so thinks she might be too tall now.
Was Mushroom, Snow Angel, Soldier x2 (pandemic) and clown.
Totally had her heart set on party girl for years, but I think clown fixed her of that

The breadth of physical difference in L3/4A is amazing! My li’l shorty had to grasp her partner’s forearm when auditioning for little butterfly because she couldn’t reach her hand.

[Anonymous]

Do you know for level 2 and up if there is an actual clown audition when they are auditioning for other roles? Or do you have to ask to show them what you can do? Is there a difference if you want to go for "little clown" to show them your jump and gymnastics skills (assuming you also meet costume and height requirements).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know for level 2 and up if there is an actual clown audition when they are auditioning for other roles? Or do you have to ask to show them what you can do? Is there a difference if you want to go for "little clown" to show them your jump and gymnastics skills (assuming you also meet costume and height requirements).

There are clown auditions - they need to show cartwheels
For little clown, they will ask your kiddo to audition for it if appropriate. They usually need to see the split jumps and back bends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was a clown at L3 last year - but has grown a few inches since, so thinks she might be too tall now.
Was Mushroom, Snow Angel, Soldier x2 (pandemic) and clown.
Totally had her heart set on party girl for years, but I think clown fixed her of that

The breadth of physical difference in L3/4A is amazing! My li’l shorty had to grasp her partner’s forearm when auditioning for little butterfly because she couldn’t reach her hand.

Ive got a tall string bean on the other end - maybe they were partners!

[Anonymous]

DD wants little butterfly so she can perform on pointe!

[Anonymous]

And there are more available roles than what is at the auditions. For example, Dancing Dolls, Pages, Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And there are more available roles than what is at the auditions. For example, Dancing Dolls, Pages, Etc.

This is especially true for the level 2ish crowd.
I feel like there are fewer roles as they get older, but also fewer dancers at each level i guess