Audition Notice for Nutcracker 2025

6 Performances at the Civic Center: December 11-13, 2025
Audition Dates: August 22-23 2025

Audition Location: Pioneer Columbus Community Center West Gym (enter from the north) 2100 SE 5 th Street, Des Moines, IA 50315

Seeking Male and Female Dancers ages 8-Adult*

* All second graders may audition even if they will not be 8 by the time of the show

Cost: $17.00 audition fee due at audition or with pre-registration
Membership (minimum 40.00 per family) and Performance fees (37.00 per dancer or 74.00 per family).
Scholarships available

Pre-Registration required. To preregister, please follow this link to signup in Engage: Nutcracker 2025 Audition Registration

Groups of 10 or 20 will audition in 15 min. increments.
Sign up in advance for one 15 min. time slot grouped by age in small groups
Audition combinations for each age group are available here: Nutcracker 2025 Audition Videos

Audition time slots

Friday August 22, 2025
5:30-6:15pm 2nd grade *
6:15-6:45pm 3rd grade
6:45-7:30pm 4th grade
7:30-7:45pm 5 th grade
7:45-8:00pm Adult

*Prepare to dance the age 9yrs
#2 combination non-pointe roles

Saturday August 23
1:00-2:00pm 6 th grade *
2:00-2:45pm 7 th grade
2:45-3:30pm 8 th grade
3:45-4:15pm 9 th grade
4:15-4:45pm 10 th grade
4:45-5:15pm 11 th &12 th grade
5:15-5:45pm Adults (prepare the Age 15+ combinations)
pointe & non-pointe roles
6:00-6:30pm Callbacks by invitation only (may
include pointe/partnering)

  • Pre-register for one (1) time slot in the grade for your age as of December 1, 2025.
    *If your dancer is in second grade and will not be 8 at the time for the show, they may register with the 8 year olds.
  • Arrive promptly, ready to dance at your time slot in appropriate shoes for your audition.
  • Solid colored ballet attire requested. A warm up area will be available 20 min before your time slot.
  • If you are in the 6th grade and 12 years old, you have the option to audition on pointe.
  • Pointe dancers should plan to be in pointe shoes for the entire 15 min time slot.
    Auditioning on pointe does not guarantee a pointe role will be assigned to you.
  • Each time slot will include age appropriate ballet combinations.
  • An opportunity to show acro skills will occur within your time slot.

Videos of the combinations are available online here: Nutcracker 2025 Audition Videos and they will also be briefly reviewed during the warm-up time before each group performs them for the adjudicator.

Roles are announced by e-mail no later than September 8, 2025. You must respond by September 11 to accept your role and your Mandatory rehearsal schedule.

Second audition at Iowa Ballet Academy on Sunday, September 14 1pm to fill any roles that may be still available.