Twin Cities Ballet Company's 43rd Annual
Nutcracker Ballet Weekend
will be December 5-7, 2025,
at Illinois State University’s Braden Auditorium.
*Be a Part of the Nutcracker Tradition*


| PERFORMANCES |
| FRIDAY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY MATINEE |
| SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE | *new
| TICKETS | *on sale now
(updated 10/20/2025)
| ***Details for Dancers & Dance Families*** | *updated
Illinois State University
Braden Auditorium
(Inside the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St., Normal)
- Friday, Dec. 5, 10:00 a.m. – School/Community Matinee Performance*
- Friday, Dec. 5, 7:00 p.m. – Traditional Performance
- Saturday, Dec. 6, 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. – Nutcracker Experience (1:00-2:30 p.m.) & Performance (3:00 p.m.)*
- Sunday, Dec. 7, 2:00 p.m. – Traditional Performance
*Note: Friday morning’s and Saturday’s performances are school/family-friendly versions.
Information about tickets, this year’s Nutcracker Experience, and much more will be shared in the coming weeks...
FRIDAY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY MATINEE PERFORMANCE |
The Friday School/Community Matinee Performance is designed especially for school children and community groups, offering an excellent opportunity to introduce and experience classical music and dance for young and mature audiences. Students of all ages and nursing home residents across Central Illinois have enjoyed this performance for the past 40+ years.
- The running length of this year’s production is approximately 90 minutes.
- Tickets are available now to schools, home-school families, and community groups.
- See our School Letter and School Ticket Order Form for more details.
- Note: The same info in the letter and the same order form can be used for any and all community groups.
- Contact the studio at [email protected] for more details.
This performance is sponsored and made possible by the Town of Normal's Harmon Arts Grant.
SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE |
*Experience this Fun, Family-Friendly Nutcracker event!
This fun, family-friendly experience is back again this year as part of our annual Nutcracker Ballet Weekend!
This event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, and will include fun, pre-show activities in ISU’s Bone Student Center, followed by a family-friendly Nutcracker performance in Braden Auditorium.
Your Saturday ticket will include:
- 1:00-2:30 p.m. – Fun-for-the-Family Activities (ISU Bone Student Center Ball Room)
- Enjoy activities, music, candy, a photo booth, and a memorabilia table!
- Take a backstage tour with opportunities to get pictures and autographs from your favorite Nutcracker cast members!
- 3:00 p.m. – Performance by Twin Cities Ballet (ISU Braden Auditorium)
- Enjoy all the costumes, scenes, and music of our traditional ballet, in an abbreviated version.
- Seating will be general admission. (no pre-assigned seats)
Kick-off the holiday season with TCSD and a Nutcracker Experience you’ll always remember!
***Tickets orders are available now to schools, home-school families, and community groups.***
- Friday (12/5) School/Community Matinee Performance
***Tickets for Friday Evening's Traditional Performance (12/5), Saturday's Nutcracker Experience & Family-Friendly Performance (12/6), and Sunday's Traditional Matinee Performance (12/7) will be onsale at Braden Box Office and online via Ticketmaster starting 8:00 a.m., Monday, October 20. (*no phone orders per ISU)
- Friday (12/5) Performance
- Traditional Performance (7:00 p.m.)
- Tickets are $31 (plus a $4.00 ISU facility fee).
- Audience seating will be by seat assignment made at time of purchase. (not general admission)
- Saturday (12/6) Nutcracker Experience & Performance
- Nutcracker Experience (1:00-2:30 p.m.) & Performance (3:00 p.m.)
- Tickets are $31 (plus a $4.00 ISU facility fee).
- Each ticket includes admission to the entire Nutcracker Experience: activities and performance. (see more details above)
- Audience seating for the performance will be general admission. (no pre-assigned seats)
- Sunday (12/7) Performance
- Traditional Performance (2:00 p.m.)
- Tickets are $31 (plus a $4.00 ISU facility fee).
- Audience seating will be by seat assignment made at time of purchase. (not general admission)
General Ticket Information (All Performances)
- Children 2 and under are free (when sitting on a lap).
- Purchase tickets at the Braden Box Office (check building hours online), which is located at The Welcome Desk on the east side of the first floor concourse of the ISU Bone Student Center.
- The Braden Box Office does not permit over the phone sales of tickets.
- The box office accepts credit and/or debit cards only.
- Tickets are also available online via Ticketmaster (with additional fees).
<Back to Top>
***For Dancers & Dance Families***
Keep watching this page for more details...
(updated 10/20/25)


| 2025 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET |
| KEY DATES | *updated
| SATURDAY REHEARSALS |
| PROGRAM ADS | *updated
| NUTCRACKER APPAREL |
| PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS |
| ISU HOMECOMING |
| CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP |
*coming soon...
| TECH WEEK REHEARSALS || PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES |
| DROP-OFF/PICK-UP @ ISU || HAIR/MAKE-UP || ATTIRE |
| FLOWERS || VOLUNTEERS || PICTURES |
(further details about events will be communicated by email and linked below as dates approach, click links to jump to more info)
- Saturday, Sept. 27 – Part Auditions (Party Girls & Bon Bons) | Parent Meeting #1 (during auditions)
- Sunday, Sept. 28 – Cast Sign-up (Angels/Mice/Soldiers/Party Boys)
- Saturday, Oct. 4 – Saturday Part Rehearsals Begin |Parent Meeting #2 (@ 1:15 p.m. in the waiting room)
- Saturday, Oct. 18 – Saturday Part Rehearsals* | ISU Homecoming Parade (featuring Claras, Snow Queens, and The Nutcracker)
- Note: *No Bon Bons rehearsal 10/18 due to parade
- Monday, Oct. 20 – Tickets On Sale @ 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 25 – Saturday Part Rehearsals | Program Ads Due
- Saturday, Nov. 1 – Saturday All-Cast Rehearsals Begin
- Saturday, Nov. 8 – Saturday All-Cast Rehearsal | Nutcracker Apparel Due
- Saturday, Nov. 15 – Saturday All-Cast Rehearsal
- Saturday, Nov. 22 – Saturday All-Cast Rehearsal (Last All-Cast) | Picture Day
- Sunday, Nov. 30 – Tech Week Begins
More key dates & details coming soon...
Part Rehearsals - October 4, 11, 18*, 25
- 11:30-12:30 - Bon Bons (*no rehearsal on 10/18 due to parade)
- 1:00-1:45 - Mice and Soldiers (includes Company)
- 1:15-2:15 - Party Parents
- 1:45-2:15 - Angels
- 2:15-3:00 - All Party Girls and Boys (includes Company)
*Note: Bon Bons may have a few part rehearsals after Oct.25, before All Cast rehearsals in November. Details TBD/TBA...
All-Cast Rehearsals - November 1, 8, 15, 22
These rehearsals are a full run-through of the show with the full cast from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m.
For Company dancers, plan to be available for your parts during the entire rehearsal.
For non-company parts, see your suggested arrival times below.
- 1:00 - Party Girls and Boys
- 1:30 - Mice and Soldiers
- 1:45 - Sleigh Fairies and Angels
- 2:15 - Bon Bons
Rehearsal Note: We do our best to remain on schedule during all-cast rehearsals, but certain parts may run a little longer than expected. With this in mind, please make sure to arrive early to ensure that your dancer does not miss their part.
Reminder: Tech Week Rehearsals begin for all cast members on Sunday, Nov. 30, through Thursday, Dec. 4. (Watch reminder emails and the Nutcracker site for more Tech Week details...)
***UPDATE/REMINDER***
To ensure everyone has the opportunity to consider and order an ad for the Nutcracker Program,
we are extending the due date by 2 weeks!
This year, the program for our 43rd Nutcracker Ballet will be provided in digital format only to our audience. This transition will reduce printing expenses and logistics for the studio.
As a result, the congratulatory ad options will be available for digital purchase - with orders due by Saturday, October 25, 2025.
¼ Page Ad: $30
- Complete form to place your order including:
- Dancer First Name(s)
- Message to dancer(s), up to 250 characters
- Email 1-2 digital photos of your dancer to Christine Johnson ([email protected]) by Saturday, Oct. 25.
- Requestors will receive a completed digital ad invitation to share with family, friends, or social media to invite the community to the show.
Full Page Ad: $125
- Complete form to place your order including:
- Dancer First Name(s)
- Message to dancer(s), up to 500 characters
- Email 1-4 digital photos of your dancer to Christine Johnson ([email protected]) by Saturday, Oct. 25.
- Requestors will receive a completed digital ad to share with family, friends, or social media to invite the community to the show.
We are excited to partner with another local business (also owned by a Twin Cities parent) to offer you a new Nutcracker Apparel experience this year!
- Check-out the fun Nutcracker designs and dance-themed apparel options in the store below!
- Place your orders by Saturday, November 8!
- And, help support us with rental and production costs for our annual Nutcracker shows!
✨Twin Cities School of Dance – Nutcracker Apparel Fundraiser!
Now’s your chance to show your support for your favorite dancer while helping the studio reach its fundraising goal and picking up some festive Nutcracker Apparel! ❤️
Shop all the adorable Nutcracker-themed apparel — and here’s the best part — anything you purchase from our website counts toward the fundraiser!
Every order helps support our talented dancers and brings a little extra holiday magic to the stage this season.
✨Shop & support here: https://www.thedreamersclubshop.com/shop/twin-cities-school-of-dance/Z37FNK34OHSIK2U5TONVSTSU
Let’s cheer on our dancers and make this Nutcracker performance truly unforgettable! ❤️ |
PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS
|
The annual Nutcracker Participation Fee includes benefits for our dancers and our dance school (and will be added directly to accounts this Fall.)
Twin Cities Ballet Company
- 2025 Fee: n/a (now included in overall Company Wardrobe Fee paid for the full Company Season)
- What's still included: Nutcracker T-shirt, Nutcracker media access*, and annual costume use and cleaning/maintenance
Non-Company Cast Members
- 2025 Fee: $120 for two parts, $100 for one part
- Fee Includes: Nutcracker T-shirt and Nutcracker media access*
- Fee Also Covers: annual non-company Nutcracker registration fee and Nutcracker costume rental and cleaning/maintenance
*Nutcracker Media Access: All cast members will receive digital video links to both traditional performances (Friday and Sunday), plus access to pictures taken during dress rehearsal at ISU.
Calling ALL Twin Cities Dancers and Dance Families!
Twin Cities School of Dance (TCSD) will again be a community entrant in the Illinois State University (ISU) Homecoming Parade on Saturday, October 18!
Want to walk with us in the parade?
All TCSD dancers and dance families are invited to walk the parade route with us!
Sign-up here to walk with us
(sign-up by Wednesday, Oct. 15)
All participants should plan to arrive on campus on Parade Saturday (10/18) by 9:30 a.m. and meet in front of Thomas Metcalf School on S. University St., with the parade stepping-off at 10:00 a.m.
- It's not just a Nutcracker thing...ALL TCSD dancers and dance families (of all ages) are invited to walk the parade route with us.
- Walkers will accompany our Claras, Snow Queens, and The Nutcracker cast members (who will be riding in vehicles).
- Wear any TCSD, Nutcracker, or dance attire. (But, watch the weather!)
*Candy: Please also consider donating an extra bag of candy to share with our dancers to pass out to parade watchers. (Candy can be dropped-off at the studio anytime, ordered online to be delivered to studio, or brought to the parade.)
Adult walkers will also be provided promotional postcards with Nutcracker and TCSD info to hand out to parade spectators
*Classes/Rehearsals:
- Miss Jacee's Classes - At this time, all Miss Jacee's Saturday classes will dance as scheduled.
- Senior Ballet Company - Saturday Rehearsal (9-12pm) will not dance on Parade Saturday this year, as all dancers are expected to walk in the parade to help promote the school and their Nutcracker Ballet performances. (All Junior & Apprentice Ballet Company dancers are also strongly encouraged to walk with us in the parade.)
- *Note: There should be no time-conflicts with Saturday's Nutcracker Part Rehearsals that start at 1:00 p.m.
Want to experience the parade and support TCSD in other ways?
- Watch the parade live from the sidewalks along the parade route and cheer on our participants.
- The parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. at the corner of College Avenue and University Street.
- Can't make it to the parade? Watch it live on the Illinois State University YouTube channel!
|
Sign-up today and join us in representing TCSD out in the community at the 2025 ISU Homecoming - and help us "Raise The Banner" for our dance school and Nutcracker performers!
Go TCSD! Go Redbirds!

CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP
|
General, non-company casting for this year’s Nutcracker will again be a combination of auditions and sign-ups. All current and aspiring TCSD dancers are welcome to audition and sign-up. (Please note not all dancers who audition will be cast, but they will still have the option to sign-up for other parts in the show.)
Part Auditions & Cast Sign-up Details
- Party Girl auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 12:15 p.m.
- Pre-registration online is required. (Register now!)
- Dancers must be 8 years of age by Sept. 1 and have previous ballet experience.
- Selections will be communicated by email after the audition.
- Bon Bon auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1:00 p.m.
- Pre-registration online is required. (Register now!)
- Dancers must be 6 years of age by Sept. 1 and able to do a cartwheel.
- Selections will be communicated by email after the audition.
- Angels/Mice/Soldiers/Party Boys will be cast via online sign-up starting Sunday, Sept. 28, at 10:00 a.m.
- Sign-up by registering online beginning at 10:00 a.m. on 9/28.
- Dancers may sign-up for up to 2 of these roles, unless previously selected for a Party Girl or Bon Bon role.
- Dancers selected for a Party Girl or Bon Bon role may sign-up for 1 of these additional roles.
- Dancers selected for both a Party Girl and Bon Bon role cannot sign-up for an additional role.
A one-time participation fee will be applied to accounts after casting is complete. (Fee details are available online and included in your casting/sign-up emails.)
<Back to Top>
Photography credit: Running N Heels Photography.