Every December, Sacramento Ballet’s Nutcracker fills the stage at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center with over 250 young dancers, live music from the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, and the kind of holiday magic this city has come to know and love. It is the largest production of its kind in the region, and it would not be possible without the young performers who bring it to life each year.

Auditions for the 2026 production will be held August 29 and 30, open to dancers ages 7 to 18. This is a professional production staged by a professional company, and dancers who join the cast can expect a rehearsal schedule and level of commitment to match. In return, they will gain real stage experience, work alongside Sacramento Ballet’s company artists, and become part of a Sacramento holiday tradition that has been passed down for generations.

Find your height and age bracket below, then get ready to audition:

Saturday, August 29th

Youth 12 & under, height 4’7” & under

1:00 pm – Sign-in begins

1:30 pm – Auditions Start

Register For 1:00 PM Check In

 

Youth 12 & under, height 4’7.1” & above

3:15 pm- Sign-in begins

3:45 pm – Auditions Start

Register For 3:15 PM Check In

Sunday, August 30th

Youth 12 & under, height 4’7.1” & above

10:00 am – Sign-in begins

10:30 am – Auditions Start

Register For 10:00 AM Check in (Re-opened now that Saturday Auditions Have Passed

Youth 13 and up, 5’3” and under

11:45 am – Sign-in begins

12:15 pm – Warm-up class

1:00 pm – Auditions start

Register For 11:45 AM Check In

 

Youth 13 and up, 5’3.1 and above

1:30 pm – Sign-in begins

2:00 pm – Warm-up class

2:45 pm – Audition start

Register For Group 1:30 PM Check in

 

DROP-OFF & PARKING

Please review the attached map before arriving.

We have several exciting events happening at the CLARA this weekend, including regular classes from our various tenants and a large Oaxacan festival in the courtyard. To help everyone get where they need to go smoothly, we encourage families to:

  • Drop dancers off with an adult at our designated drop-off zone, or
  • Park nearby and walk to the CLARA.

Cars can enter through the 25th Street entrance. The designated drop-off zone is just past the entrance on the right-hand side, between the CLARA main building and the Annex.

 

CHECK-IN & AUDITION PROCESS

After check-in, dancers will be brought upstairs in groups of approximately 50, based on check-in order.

Once your dancer is brought upstairs, the audition will take approximately one hour before they are released.

Dance bags and shoes will remain downstairs inside the CLARA building. We strongly recommend leaving all valuables at home and not sending anything with your dancer that they would be concerned about leaving unattended.

Only a water bottle and dance attire will be allowed in the audition room.

PARENTS & WAITING AREA

Parents and guardians may not observe auditions.

We will have dedicated helpers and chaperones available to assist dancers throughout the process.

Parents and guardians are welcome to wait in our designated area on the CLARA lawn. Dancers will be released through the door circled in yellow on the attached map.

A NOTE FOR NERVOUS DANCERS

If your dancer is feeling nervous, please remind them that audition day is not about being the “best” dancer in the room. It is about giving us the opportunity to get to know them as a dancer and as a person so we can find the perfect role for them in this year’s Nutcracker.

A little clue into what our adjudicators are looking for:

Enthusiasm, calm bodies, focus, and listening to directions are at the top of the list!

There is no need to be perfect. We want dancers who are excited to be there, ready to learn, willing to listen, and ready to try their best. Come ready to dance, have fun, and let us get to know you!

CALLBACKS

Please check your email within approximately 20 minutes of your dancer’s release.

You will receive an email letting you know whether your dancer is requested for a callback on Sunday, August 30 from 4:00–5:00 PM.

Please remember that not being requested for a callback does not mean anything negative about your dancer or their audition. Our casting process considers many factors, and sometimes we simply have everything we need to make a casting decision.

AUDITION ATTIRE

Dancers should wear traditional ballet attire for auditions and subsequent Nutcracker rehearsals.

Option A:
Black leotard
Pink or flesh-toned tights
Any color ballet shoes

Option B:
Fitted white T-shirt
Black shorts, tights, or leggings
Any color ballet shoes

Dancers en pointe: Please bring pointe shoes into the audition room.