2025 Nutcracker Ballet

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 | *new

| SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE | *coming soon

| TICKETS | *coming soon

(updated 9/30/2025)

| ***Details for Dancers & Dance Families*** | *updated

 

PERFORMANCES

 

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.

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***For Dancers & Dance Families***

Keep watching this page for more details...

(updated 9/30/25)

 

| 2025 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET | *coming soon

 

| KEY DATES |

| SATURDAY REHEARSALS | *updated

 | ISU HOMECOMING |

 | CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP |

 

 

*coming soon...

| TECH WEEK REHEARSALS || PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES | 

 | DROP-OFF/PICK-UP @ ISU || HAIR/MAKE-UP || ATTIRE |

| FLOWERS || VOLUNTEERS |

| PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS || PICTURES | 

| PROGRAM ADS/MESSAGES || NUTCRACKER APPAREL |

 

 KEY DATES
 

(further details about events will be communicated by email and linked below as dates approach, click links to jump to more info)

More key dates & details coming soon...

 
SATURDAY REHEARSALS
 

Part Rehearsals - October 4, 11, 18, 25

  • 11:30-12:30 - Bon Bons
  • 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...)

 

ISU HOMECOMING
 

Calling ALL Twin Cities Dancers and Dance Families!

TCSD will again be a community entrant in the Illinois State University (ISU) Homecoming Parade on Saturday, October 18!

  • 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).

Watch for more details and a sign-up soon...

 

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.)

 

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Photography credit: Running N Heels Photography.