Has Anyone's Child Participated in Washington Ballet Nutcracker?

[Anonymous]

DD auditioned for the first time this past weekend. We don't know if she will be cast or not, but I am starting to get nervous about the commitment involved, especially with other activities and school. Would really appreciate if any parents who have BTDT can share their experiences, good or bad. Any tips you can share? It was a packed house at the audition, so I am hoping I will find at least one other parent who can share their experience. Was it worth it? Was it completely overwhelming? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We've done it twice. It is a major commitment. Expect rehearsals every Saturday and Sunday. They are usually 1-3 hours in length and you usually only know the schedule a week in advance or so. Your kid will miss a lot of birthday parties and you won't be able to travel. OUr child doesn't do any other weekend activities in the fall. Sometimes the rehearsals are at 11:00 AM and sometimes they are at 2:00 PM, so it's hard to plan.

The youngest children are cast in six shows (usually) and at least some will be weekday nights, so that can be rough on the schedule as well.

All that said, it's a pretty amazing experience for your child to be on a stage with 1000+ audience. They interact with older children and professional dancers. We made the determination that it was worth it - for us.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the PP. does anyone actually drop out if it becomes too much? What if a child gets sick?

[Anonymous]

Kids do drop out - last year a kid in my daughter's cast (similar role) was chronically late for rehearsals and eventually dropped out. They took a dancer in the same role from another cast and that girl was in 12 shows. I don't know how often it happens. Relatively rare, I think.

If your kid is sick and misses a rehearsal, that happens. If she is going to miss a performance, you have to find a substitute! TWSB gives you the names/numbers of the other dances in the same roles/different cast, and you find one to fill in.

[Anonymous]

NP and my DD also auditioned. Results posted tonight!
I too have some questions - Are the roles they learned choreography for the roles that they will be placed in, or are there additional roles? My DD learned the steps for the beginning 1A class - she said party child, cherry blossom and mouse. How do they decide which kids are assigned which roles? My DD is quite a bit taller then a lot of her peers (and was nearly a head taller than some of the other girls there). Does that make a difference? Do all kids get a part or are some actually not selected?

[Anonymous]

Another NP here, just curious (and I say this as someone who isn't a dance parent) - are the kids getting paid to do this? It seems like a huge commitment, and the show makes a lot of money for the Washington Ballet. Do kids who participate get a reduced fee for ballet classes or any other kind of compensation? Do parents at least get free tickets to the show?

[Anonymous]

Some are not selected.

Casting depends on ability and attitude but also on things like height. Certain roles/costumes require certain sizes.

The kids are not paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP and my DD also auditioned. Results posted tonight!
I too have some questions - Are the roles they learned choreography for the roles that they will be placed in, or are there additional roles? My DD learned the steps for the beginning 1A class - she said party child, cherry blossom and mouse. How do they decide which kids are assigned which roles? My DD is quite a bit taller then a lot of her peers (and was nearly a head taller than some of the other girls there). Does that make a difference? Do all kids get a part or are some actually not selected?

for 1A, your child could be party scene, mouse, cherry blossom, mushroom, or (most likely) snow angel. There are 72 (!!!) snow angels, and most are from 1A. They don't bother auditioning the snow angel because the steps are really basic.

This is a huge money-maker for TWB... think of all the seats filled by the little mushrooms' mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, cousins...

[Anonymous]

I've known kids who have done it, mushrooms and snow angels. I know one of them had to miss school to make a daytime performance. Rehearsals will keep you busy.

[Anonymous]

Do any of the roles actually dance at the 1A level?

[Anonymous]

It's been a few years since our youngest did this, but it was a great experience overall for our child. PPs are right that it's a big commitment for both your child and your family, and don't plan on traveling for winter break (shows continue until after Xmas) until you have your child's schedule in hand.

There's a lot of controversy over who gets the "best" roles at the younger ages. Clearly there is some merit involved when the kids are older, but at the youngest ages, the party girl roles magically seemed to go to the big donors. You'll know what I mean when you see the program. Doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile experience anyway, but people grumble about it A LOT. Maybe it's improved in the past few years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's been a few years since our youngest did this, but it was a great experience overall for our child. PPs are right that it's a big commitment for both your child and your family, and don't plan on traveling for winter break (shows continue until after Xmas) until you have your child's schedule in hand.

There's a lot of controversy over who gets the "best" roles at the younger ages. Clearly there is some merit involved when the kids are older, but at the youngest ages, the party girl roles magically seemed to go to the big donors. You'll know what I mean when you see the program. Doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile experience anyway, but people grumble about it A LOT. Maybe it's improved in the past few years?

A PP here. This is what I was afraid of. My DD is in 1A bc of age but has been dancing at another competitive studio since she was little. She's a very good dancer, but now I'm thinking no one there knows it and we aren't donors. So she will
Prob end up a snow angel. And we will decide whether it's worth it for her to commit the time to a role that doesn't even dance.

[Anonymous]

ummmm....usually, if your child is assigned a role, you accept it. with a glad heart. you don't turn it down bc it's not good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's been a few years since our youngest did this, but it was a great experience overall for our child. PPs are right that it's a big commitment for both your child and your family, and don't plan on traveling for winter break (shows continue until after Xmas) until you have your child's schedule in hand.

There's a lot of controversy over who gets the "best" roles at the younger ages. Clearly there is some merit involved when the kids are older, but at the youngest ages, the party girl roles magically seemed to go to the big donors. You'll know what I mean when you see the program. Doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile experience anyway, but people grumble about it A LOT. Maybe it's improved in the past few years?

A PP here. This is what I was afraid of. My DD is in 1A bc of age but has been dancing at another competitive studio since she was little. She's a very good dancer, but now I'm thinking no one there knows it and we aren't donors. So she will
Prob end up a snow angel. And we will decide whether it's worth it for her to commit the time to a role that doesn't even dance.

Honey, there are a LOT of "very good dancers" there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another NP here, just curious (and I say this as someone who isn't a dance parent) - are the kids getting paid to do this? It seems like a huge commitment, and the show makes a lot of money for the Washington Ballet. Do kids who participate get a reduced fee for ballet classes or any other kind of compensation? Do parents at least get free tickets to the show?

You're joking, right?

If you are asking these questions with a straight face, you haven't met the Ballet Moms in this city.