Schedule

• Ladies: Standard ballet attire — leotard, pink tights covering the foot, pink ballet slippers — and bring pointe shoes, if applicable. Hair in neat ballet bun. No make-up required. Color of leotard and permission to wear extra clothing (i.e. skirts, leg warmers, etc.) will be at the discretion of your choreographer.
• Gentlemen: Solid white or black dance shirt. Black tights. Dance belt (ages 12 and older). Black ballet slippers. Hair off face.
• Party Scene Adults: Ladies — close-fitting top and leggings are preferred in order to better see movements, and character shoes. Gentlemen — any comfortable clothing (t-shirt and sweats are fine), plus soft-sole jazz shoes. Socks are fine until you have purchased the proper shoes.

Important: No loose or dangling jewelry should be worn for rehearsals. Please do not schedule any piercings immediately prior to performances or dye hair color between auditions and performances — dancers will need to have natural hair colors.

Please — do not just tell your choreographer in person (and in passing) — you must email both addresses so we can track attendance properly:
director@gardencityballet.org
caroline@gardencityballet.org

Please keep in mind that when one dancer is absent it negatively impacts all of the remaining dancers and choreographer. While the absent dancer may feel confident in knowing the choreography, this is only part of the larger picture. Choreography is often built on symmetry, with patterns that involve intricate spacing and exact timing. Absent dancers leave “holes” which can throw everyone else off. It is crucial to attend your rehearsals.

Please familiarize yourselves with this beast. We encourage you to print a hard copy and highlight all of your own rehearsal times. If you have any questions or would like to review this together, page by page, let us know! Be sure to communicate any scheduling conflicts with your dance studio teachers.

2026 Theater Tech Week Schedule —  (draft as of 10.8.26)

(Subject to Change)

Prologue:

A – Drosselmeyer’s Workshop:
Drosselmeyer, Drosselmeyer’s Assistant, Musicians, Dolls

B – Outside the Stahlbaum Home:
Fritz, Clara, Governess

Act One:

Opening Scene:
Courier, Mistletoe Vendors, Ice Skaters, Carolers, Drosselmeyer, Drosselmeyer’s Assistant (Prince), Families #1 and #2

Party Scene (approx. 30 min):
Drosselmeyer, Drosselmeyer’s Assistant/Nutcracker Prince, Clara, Fritz, Mother, Father, Butler, Maid, Dolls, Governess, Grandmother, Grandfather, Adult Guests, Clara’s Friends, Party Girls and Boys

The Magical Battle (aka Fight Scene, approx. 10 min, plus 5 min for Transformation):
Clara, Nutcracker Prince, Rat King, Hench Mice, Lead Mice, Little Mice, Soldier General, Soldier Captains, Soldier Corps, Ornaments, Drosselmeyer

Snow Scene (approx. 11 min):
Clara, Nutcracker Prince, Snow King and Queen, Demi-Soloists, Snowflakes (Corps)

Act Two:

Moonflower Fairy, Angels, Clara and Prince

Welcome Garden:
Butterflies, Royal Attendants, Bluebells, Violets,
Plus:  Clara, Prince, Chocolate soloist, Shepherdesses, Tea soloist, Coffee soloists, Trepak soloist, Rose Queen

Variations:
Chocolate from Spain
Marzipan from Denmark (Shepherdesses, Sheep)
Tea from China
Coffee from Arabia
Mother Ginger and Gingersnaps
Trepak from Russia

Waltz of the Flowers:
Rose Queen, Demi-soloists, Flower Corps, Rosebuds

Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier

Finale:
Clara and Prince
Ballerina Doll
Snow King and Queen
Moonflower Fairy
Butterflies
Chocolate soloist
Shepherdesses
Tea soloist
Coffee soloists
Trepak (Daphne Adams, Florence Byrne, Eva Thurman)
Rose Queen