Clara and the Nutcracker
Cast Requirements
BALLET CLASS ATTENDANCE
All cast members must be enrolled in a ballet class at SMASH Dance Academy. Regular attendance in class from August until the performance is expected.
All cast members dancing on pointe in the show will be required to maintain a consistently high attendance in their ballet and pointe classes in order to perform on pointe.
MANDATORY CAST & PARENT MEETING
All cast members and a parent are required to watch our Cast Info Session, either live or post-session recording. You will need to get through all the information from the Info Session in order to sign and complete your Cast Member Contract.
Live Zoom Info Session:
Saturday August 22 @ 10:00am
Zoom link will be sent out with casting information
If you cannot log in for the live Zoom, we will send the recording of the session out afterward.
All Cast Member Contracts must be signed by Friday August 24, 2026.
PRODUCTION FEES
Cast Member Fee -- $65 per participating dancer
Character Fee -- Character Fees are associated with the length of rehearsal time the character needs in the Regular Weekly Rehearsal Schedule.
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Characters with 45 min rehearsals – Character Fee is $90
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Characters with 60 min rehearsals – Character Fee is $120
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Characters with 90+ min rehearsals – Character Fee is $150
REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE COMMITTMENT
Nutcracker rehearsals take place weekly on Saturdays between 8am-2pm. An exact schedule with each character's allotted time will be provided upon casting.
Each dancer is allowed to miss only one rehearsal. Please look at your family’s schedule for the fall and ensure they will only have one planned absence. Casted dancers who fail to maintain this rehearsal commitment will be removed from the production. No refund will be granted.
Rehearsal Committment
Regular Rehearsals
We are currently finalizing our performance venue. Because of this, final performance dates and exact Saturday rehearsal dates are not yet available. Families will have the opportunity to confirm their participation once the rehearsal schedule and performance dates are finalized.
We expect regular rehearsals to begin Saturday August 29.
Combined Characters Rehearsals
Dancers may be required at slightly different times than regular rehearsals, and/or longer rehearsals.
Dates TBA
Mandatory Full Scene Rehearsals
No absences are allowed for the following two rehearsals. Schedules will be quite different and go between 8am-6pm.
Dates TBA
Mandatory Onstage Rehearsals
No absences are allowed for either of the onstage rehearsals.
Dates TBA
PERFORMANCES
Performance Date TBA
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Each family is required to fill a volunteer assignment for the production. Most assignments happen on show day and are no more than 3 hours of commitment.