Nutcracker 2026 Auditions

Auditions for Commonwealth Ballet’s

The Nutcracker

will be held on

Sunday, September 13th at Acton School of Ballet

Details to come later this summer!

All dancers auditioning for a role in the production must be taking a minimum of two ballet classes per week.

Pre-registration is required.

Registration closes midnight, Friday, September 11th.

An example of last year’s Production Information can be found HERE.

Please observe the following:

A fee of $30 is due upon registration.

1. Enter Acton School of Ballet through the main upstairs entrance door (between the buildings).

2. Arrive ready to dance -

Depending on your preferred gender expression, dancers may choose to wear:

  • a black leotard, ballet tights, and ballet slippers, group 3 dancers bring pointe shoes if applicable.

OR

  • dance tights, a solid color t-shirt or leotard, and black ballet slippers.

Please reach out to Artistic Director, Melenie Diarbekirian - artistic.director@commonwealthballet.org- if you have any questions about attire.

3. Parents and other companions may enter the building to assist their dancer with sign-in. Absolutely no one will be allowed to linger in the lobby while the audition is in process.

4. Please do not wear any jewelry. Hair should be in a bun or neatly out of the face.

5. Bring a water bottle with you.

6. CBC logo wear will be sold in the upper lobby before and after each audition group.

Results will be emailed by Wednesday, September 16 if you are cast as Clara, or are cast as a role in the Party Scene and Midnight/Battle Scene. Most of these roles will begin rehearsal on Sunday, September 20. All other roles will be announced by Friday, September 18.

If accepted, a mandatory parent meeting will be held Sunday, September 20.

To participate in our Nutcracker production, all participants must agree to the terms and sign the Parent/Guardian Agreement, as well as complete Liability waivers for both dancer and parent/guardian volunteering, a media release, and a medical waiver. Follow these links for the agreements: Parent Agreement, Media Release, Liability Release.

If cast :

  • All roles regularly rehearse once a week on Sundays between 12-7pm. Any absence must be personally excused by the Artistic Director. Only one excused absence is permitted to participate. 

  • All studio rehearsals take place at Acton School of Ballet - 3 Spruce St, West Acton, MA

  • All theater rehearsals take place at Regis College Casey Theater - 235 Wellesley St., Weston, MA

  • Dancers will rehearse every weekend leading up to the performance, including the long holiday weekends.

  • All roles have a mandatory studio rehearsals at Acton School of Ballet Saturday 11/21, Sunday 11/22, and Sunday 12/13. Failure to attend these may result in removal from the production.

  • All cast members must be available to attend the following theater rehearsals at Regis College:

    • Monday evening 11/23 - Theater Blocking 

    • Tuesday evening 11/24 - Theater Blocking

    • Wednesday evening 11/25 - Dress Rehearsal

    • Thursday evening 12/17 - Dress Rehearsal

  • Rehearsal schedules will be posted weekly on www.commonwealthballet.org  If cast, dancers/families will receive a case-specific passcode to login and view.

  • All rehearsals are critical to the process and the end result of our production. All mandatory rehearsal dates are firm!