Dancers must attend the age group and audition time according to their exact age on the actual day of auditions.
If, however, a dancer does not attend the appropriate audition, GCB will follow this protocol:
If the absence is due to illness, injury, or personal matter (considered on a case-by-case basis by the Artistic Director) of a known dancer (i.e. someone who has participated in GCB’s Nutcracker or who is currently known by one of our choreographers), the Artistic Director will make every effort to cast the dancer in an appropriate role(s), if available.
If a dancer is not known to GCB or any of its choreographers and is absent for any reason (including being unaware of the audition, illness, injury, or personal matter), the Artistic Director will cast only lower or mid-level roles best suited for younger or less experienced dancers (i.e. non-pointe roles), if available. For casting in roles that require a higher skill level (i.e. pointe role or soloist), the dancer must be present for the audition (in order to be assessed in the context of all dancers at the audition).
Auditions may only be viewed by members of the casting committee (Artistic Director, Assistant Artistic Director, choreographers for the season, independent adjudicator). GCB staff and board members do not view auditions.
Video submissions and make-up auditions (due to a dancer’s absence) are not permitted.
Every reasonable effort will be made to cast all dancers who audition, but there is no guarantee — audition numbers may exceed our costume inventory and available roles.
Every reasonable effort will be made to include all abilities.
The Artistic Director is not required to cast everyone in an equal number of roles.
The Artistic Director is not required to cast based on age, grade level, length of time in the production, or studio affiliation (i.e. the role of Clara does not formally rotate from one studio to another).
School Absence Request Form
Dancers (or parents) may find this GCB form useful: School Absence Request
General
All known and planned absences should be communicated at least one full week in advance to the Artistic Director and Executive Director. If plane tickets have been purchased or you have a future event already on your calendar (i.e. vacation, wedding), please tell us now.
- Attendance will be taken at every rehearsal.
- Do not come if testing positive for a contagious virus (i.e. COVID, norovirus, flu, RSV) or experiencing fever or vomiting.
- Please mask if you have a common cold or lingering symptoms from recent illness.
- A rehearsal may be cancelled if we have multiple known absences in advance.
Late / Tardy
Three late arrivals (5 minutes or more) will count as (1) absence. If you arrive late, it is your responsibility to be sure you are marked “late” instead of “absent” in the attendance binder.
UM Homecoming Parade (October 3, 2026)
Rehearsals are typically held on UM Homecoming weekend — if you are in the parade and miss a scheduled rehearsal, it will count as an absence.
MEA / MDAA (October 15-18, 2026)
Rehearsals are typically held on this long MCPS weekend, which often is the same weekend as the MDAA dance workshop — if you miss a scheduled rehearsal, it will count as an absence.
Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026)
No rehearsals will be held Friday or Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, but rehearsals are typically held on Sunday — if you miss a scheduled rehearsal, it will count as an absence. (While not considered mandatory, these Sunday rehearsals are especially critical when the following week is the start of Tech Week.)
Mandatory Rehearsals (December 4-6, 2026)
All rehearsals after Thanksgiving weekend are mandatory for the entire cast. If you are a dancer with an assigned understudy and you miss a mandatory rehearsal, see Part C below.
Theater Tech Week (December 12-17, 2026)
All rehearsals and dress rehearsals during Tech Week are non-negotiable — all cast members are needed. If you have unavoidable conflicts during Tech Week, please do not audition. If you miss a rehearsal during Tech Week, see Part D below.
- The final run through of Act One and Act Two (held at Ballet Arts Academy on Saturday, December 12) is considered part of Tech Week and required for all.
- It is your responsibility to identify and clear all personal, work, and school-related conflicts ideally before auditions (but no later than your first rehearsal). School teachers (especially in the performing arts, i.e. band/orchestra/choir/drama) will appreciate your prompt communication at the beginning of the semester to resolve any conflicts during Tech Week. Alternative assignments are typically provided by teachers.
Nutcracker Performances (December 18-20, 2026)
All performances (including the Friday 10:00am School Show matinee) are non-negotiable — all cast members are needed. If you have unavoidable conflicts with a performance, please do not audition.
GCB Attendance Policies
Part A – General (applies to all cast members):
At the discretion of the Artistic Director, any cast member may be replaced for missing more than (2) rehearsals for any reason (including illness or emergency) during the production season.
Part B – Understudy (applies only to dancers with assigned understudies):
If the primary dancer misses more than (2) scheduled rehearsals (per role) for any reason (including illness or emergency) during the production season, the understudy will be given (1) performance opportunity chosen by the Artistic Director.
Part C – Mandatory Rehearsal (applies only to dancers with assigned understudies):
If the primary dancer misses a mandatory rehearsal for any reason except sudden illness or major emergency, the understudy will be given (1) performance opportunity chosen by the Artistic Director. It will be at the discretion of the Artistic Director to decide what constitutes a major emergency (i.e. death in the family).
Part D – Theater Tech Week (applies to all cast members):
At the discretion of the Artistic Director, any cast member — especially dancers with an understudy — will be dismissed from the production for missing a Tech Week rehearsal or dress rehearsal, unless the absence is for one of the following reasons:
- positive test for a contagious virus
- fever or vomiting
- death in the family
1st instance – The adult immediately involved will speak directly to the dancer and the Artistic Director will be notified.
2nd instance – The Artistic Director will speak to the dancer and a parent will be notified.
3rd instance – If the dancer is not dismissed (from all remaining rehearsals and performances), a parent will be required to chaperone and supervise the dancer for the remainder of the season.
GCB has zero tolerance for bullying. Please let us know if you see, or your dancer experiences, any bullying behavior. We appreciate when dancers act professionally and behave respectfully during rehearsals, onstage and backstage, and in dressing rooms. Please maintain a positive attitude throughout Nutcracker season.