Nutcracker Participation

Colorado Conservatory of Dance presents The Nutcracker 2023 at The Performing Arts Complex at PCS on:

• Saturday, December 9th: 1pm / 6:30pm
• Sunday, December 10th: 1pm
• Friday, December 15th: 6:30pm (Sensory-Friendly)
• Saturday, December 16th: 1pm / 6:30pm
• Sunday, December 17th: 1pm

2023 Nutcracker Auditions:

Auditions will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023. Pre-registration is required. Please arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your audition class time. Parents are asked to come into the building with their dancers to check them in and out. Your Nutcracker non-professional promotional photoshoot will be available at check in.  

Dancers Must Be Older Than 7-Years-Old to Audition

(exceptions may be granted at the Director of Artistic Operations‘ discretion)

Primary/Intermediate Divisions

• Arrival time: 12:00-12:30pm
• Audition: 1:00-2:15pm

Advanced 1/2/3 Divisions

• Arrival time: 2:45-3:15pm
• Audition:  3:45-5:00pm

Advanced 4/5 Divisions *Please note: This audition assumes that dancers have taken a full class just prior. Advanced 4/5 dancers should take technique class at their regularly scheduled time, take a short lunch break, and then continue to stay warm before auditions begin.

• Arrival time: 1:30-2:00pm
• Audition: 2:30-3:30pm

Our Mandatory Nutcracker Kick Off Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 29 at 7:30pm.

2023 Participation Requirements:

In order to participate in CCD’s annual The Nutcracker performance, students must meet the following general requirements:

• All dancers interested in participating in The Nutcracker must complete all summer and fall course requirements listed below.
• Those unable to complete course requirements may opt to audition for the production with no guarantee of being cast.
• Dancers auditioning without having met summer course requirements must still complete all fall course requirements.
• Dancer is 7 years old or older by August 19, 2023 (exceptions may be granted at the Director of Artistic Operations‘ discretion)
• Dancer has performed in at least one CCD Gala production or possesses equivalent performance experience (as approved by the Director of Artistic Operations)
• Mandatory performance photo/video/and t-shirt fee: $125.00 per family
• Additional t-shirts are available must be purchased by August 29, 2023 during the Mandatory Kick Off Meeting
• For students who haven’t met the summer course requirements, they are responsible for paying a non-refundable participation fee of $350.00.
• Dancers who are able to fulfill CCD’s summer training requirements are automatically accepted into the production (an audition is still required for casting purposes), and the participation fee will be waived.

Summer 2023 training and other requirements: 

• Summer training and other requirements:
  • Dancer took at least 4 full weeks of summer dance camp or intensive – Other sports intensive camps that are not dance focused will not count toward the summer 4 weeks requirement.
  • Within dancer’s 4 weeks of camp/intensive, dancer attended a minimum of the following ballet technique classes in dancer’s level during the summer.
    • Primary Division              8 ballet technique classes (minimum of 6 at CCD)
    • Intermediate Division      12 ballet technique classes (minimum of 8 at CCD)
    • Advanced 1/2 20 ballet technique classes (minimum of 8 at CCD)
    • Advanced 3/4/PPP 30 ballet technique classes (minimum of 10 at CCD)
  • Missed ballet technique classes must be made up to meet the required classes and can be done with the interim classes available – see below
  • Requirements are number of Ballet Technique classes attended, not hours. Pointe, Technique Intensive, and other specialty dance classes and private lessons do not count towards these requirements. Non-CCD intensives must be approved by the Director of Artistic Operations.
  • Interim classes (drop in classes offered at CCD June 5-16, Aug 3-14) *do not* count toward the 4 week participation requirement but can be used to make up any ballet technique classes that were missed during the summer camps.  

2023-2024 Season (Aug-June):

• Dancer must be currently enrolled at CCD, taking the following classes:
  • Primary 1 & 2:
    • Minimum of one ballet class
  • Primary Ballet 3:
    • Minimum of one ballet class and one additional ballet or jazz class
  • Intermediate 1 & 2:
    • Minimum of two ballet classes
    • AND one additional class
    • Total enrolled classes:  3
  • Intermediate 3:
    • Minimum of three ballet classes
    • AND two additional classes
    • Total enrolled classes:  5
  • Advanced 1:
    • Minimum of three ballet classes
    • Two pre-pointe classes (ladies)/one Men’s class (men)
    • AND three additional classes
    • Total enrolled classes:  8
  • Advanced 2:
    • Minimum of three ballet classes
    • Three beginning pointe (ladies)/one Men’s class (men)
    • AND three additional classes
    • Total enrolled classes:  9
  • Advanced 3:
    • Minimum of four ballet classes
    • Three pointe (ladies)/one Men’s class (men)
    • AND three additional classes
    • Total enrolled classes:  10
  • Advanced 4:
    • Minimum of five ballet classes
    • Three pointe (ladies)/one Men’s class (men)
    • AND three additional classes
    • Total enrolled classes:  11
  • Advanced 5:
    • Minimum of five ballet classes
    • Three pointe (ladies)/one Men’s class (men)
    • AND four additional classes
    • Total enrolled classes:  12