Levels 5A, 5B, and 6 students

Levels 5A, 5B, and 6 students, as well as Studio Company Apprentices, are eligible to perform or understudy one or more of the following roles: Party Scene Characters, Toy Soldiers, Clara, Fritz, The Nutcracker, Mousima, Snow, Snow Understudies, Flowers, Flower Understudies, Lords and Ladies Dragonfly, and other Soloist and Principal Roles.

These are considered advanced roles and require full participation in all theatre rehearsals and performances, with special accommodations available for the December 26 and 27 performances as described below.

Students cast as a Toy Soldier and/or Lady Dragonfly are guaranteed to be cast in at least one additional role. Toy Soldiers and Lords and Ladies Dragonfly may appear in the same performance in which they dance in Flowers or another role.

DECEMBER 26 & 27 ACCOMMODATIONS

We understand that the December 26 and 27 performances are later than when we have scheduled performances in the past. Students may indicate on their registration that they are unavailable to perform on December 26 and/or December 27 without being required to select Minimal Casting. Studio Company Apprentices must be available for all performances.

These conflicts must be declared at the time of registration so that they can be taken into consideration when Performance Casting is created. Students who declare December 26 and/or 27 conflicts may still be considered for advanced, Soloist, and Principal roles and for full casting in the other performances.

Please note: All schedules are subject to change. Families will be notified of any changes via email.

MINIMAL CASTING

Levels 5A, 5B, and 6 students who opt for Minimal Casting will only be called to the theatre for required theatre rehearsals and for performances on the days they are cast to appear on stage.

Students who opt for Minimal Casting will not be considered for:

• Any roles in the Party Scene

• Any roles in Act II other than Flowers and Lady Dragonfly

• Any Principal or Soloist roles

If you have conflicts with required theatre rehearsals or performances other than the special December 26 and 27 accommodations described above, you must sign up for Minimal Casting.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Registration Deadline — September 21, 2026
  Registration, including any declared December 26 and/or 27 conflicts, and performance fees must be submitted by this date.

• Preliminary Casting — September 28, 2026
  Preliminary Casting will indicate which roles students will be learning and rehearsing.

• Performance Casting — November 1, 2026Performance Casting will indicate which roles students will perform in each performance.

In-Studio Rehearsal Schedule

Up to six in-studio rehearsal conflicts may be accommodated. Please note all conflicts in your registration form. Students who choose not to be cast will be called to any rehearsals scheduled during regular class time and will have the opportunity to learn and practice choreography as a studio understudy.

Party Scene (ACT 1) - includes Party Scene Characters, Clara and Fritz
Saturdays: 3:00–4:15 PM; October 3–December 12 (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–2:15 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-12:15: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm-up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Battle (ACT 2) - includes Clara, The Nutcracker, Mousima, Toy Soldiers, Racoon, Skunk
Saturdays: 1:45–2:45 PM; October 3–December 12, (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-12:15: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm-up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Flowers/Flower Understudies, Snow Snow/Understudies
Tuesdays:  6:00-7:00; September 22–December 8 (No rehearsal November 24)
Saturdays: 12:30-1:30; October 3–December 12, (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-1:30: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm-up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Clara, Nutcracker, Woodland Guardians other Soloist Roles as Cast
Saturdays: 12:00-4:15; October 3–December 12, (No rehearsal October 17 or November 28. ABC IDC students excused November 7 if needed.)
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-1:30: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Lady Dragonfly
Sundays, 12:00–3:30 PM: November 8, December 6, December 13 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)
Sundays, 10:00-1:30: November 15, November 22 (Includes warm up. Optional for Minimal Casting.)

Theatre Rehearsal Schedule

Students in Levels 5 and 6 and Studio Company Apprentices may be cast in multiple roles and will be called to Theatre Rehearsals based on their casting. Students selecting Regular Casting who are cast as Snowflakes, Flowers, Principals, Soloists, or understudies for these roles are expected to attend all Theatre Rehearsals for their roles, even when they are not scheduled to be onstage. Students should observe rehearsals, remain aware of spacing and choreography changes, and be available at the theatre in case an emergency replacement is needed.

Students selecting Minimal Casting will have a reduced Theatre Rehearsal commitment and will generally be called to the theatre only for Theatre Rehearsals in which they are scheduled to be onstage. Please note any Theatre Rehearsal conflicts in your registration form.

Individual onstage Theatre Rehearsal assignments will be released with Performance Casting by November 1. Students selecting Regular Casting should continue to plan to attend all required Theatre Rehearsals for their roles, regardless of their individual onstage assignments.

As noted in the main registration information, we will not limit Performance conflicts on December 26 and 27 for students in Level 5 and 6. This exception applies to performances on those dates; families should still list all December 26 and 27 conflicts on the registration form and make every effort to prioritize participation when possible.

Additional Theatre Week details, including final call and dismissal information, will be provided closer to Theatre Week.

Tech rehearsal: Wednesday, December 16th, 4:00-9:30pm (may arrive after or during warmup 4:30-5:00, if school schedule dictates.)
Tech rehearsal: Thursday, December 17th, 4:00-9:30pm (may arrive after or during warmup 4:30-5:00, if school schedule dictates.)
Dress rehearsal: Friday, December 18th, 4:30-9:15pm 

Performance Schedule

We may have multiple casts, so students may not be scheduled to perform in every performance listed below. However, students in Levels 5 and 6 and Studio Company Apprentices who select Regular Casting are expected to be on site at the theatre for all performances, even when they are not scheduled to perform. Students may be needed for emergency coverage, and some students may be cast to perform in all performances.

Students selecting Minimal Casting will have a reduced performance commitment and will generally be required to be at the theatre only for performances in which they are cast to perform or specifically called to provide coverage.

As noted in the main registration information, we will not limit Performance conflicts on December 26 and 27. This exception also applies to students selecting Regular Casting who would otherwise be expected to remain on site for all performances. Please list all conflicts on December 26 and 27 on your registration form and make every effort to prioritize participation when possible. Please email us at school@newballet.com if you have any questions about this, even if you think your conflicts may disqualify you, as your goal is to cast as many students as possible.

Individual Performance Casting will be released by November 1.

Please note that the times listed below are estimated performer drop-off and pick-up times, not the actual performance times. Final call times and additional details will be posted closer to Theatre Week.

Saturday, December 19 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Saturday, December 19 — 5:15–9:10 PM
Sunday, December 20 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Sunday, December 20 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Tuesday, December 22 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Tuesday, December 22 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Wednesday, December 23 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Wednesday, December 23 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Saturday, December 26 — 12:15–4:10 PM
Saturday, December 26 — 5:15–9:10 PM
Sunday, December 27 — 9:15 AM–12:10 PM
Sunday, December 27 — 12:15–4:10 PM

Register By SeptEmber 21

Pay The Participation Fee By September 21

Once you have registered there is a link in the form to pay the participation fee. You also may pay your Participation Fee here if you accidentally exit out of the window. The Participation Fee for Level 5 and 6 Students is $290 (this is waived for Continuing Scholarship Students or students on Financial Aid who are notified that it is waived). The Participation Fee partially covers the cost of rehearsal staff, backstage theater staff, and costume creation/maintenance. Performance tickets must be purchased through the Box Office.