At the Fabulous Fox Theatre
Bridgeman Academy is the official St. Louis host studio for Talmi Entertainment's annual NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
The “Dance with Us” program provides ballet students with a rare opportunity to audition, rehearse, and perform alongside a professional, international touring ballet company in the Nutcracker production.
Congratulations to all students on a great 2024 performance!
Auditions are now closed. Stay tuned for 2025 audition information and see below for what to expect based on the 2024 experience.
What to Expect
All students MUST be registered via the link above.
Students should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their audition time in order to get their audition number, line up, and warm up prior to the audition.
Upon arrival, parents will accompany their student to the check-in table in the front lobby and receive their audition number.
After the student is checked in, a staff member will accompany the student back to the queuing studio where students will be lined up and have the opportunity to stretch and warm-up.
Please Note: All parents must drop their student off and then return at the end of the audition.
Students will know casting results prior to leaving the audition and will be given information regarding their role and rehearsal times.
Please Note: All students have an initial mandatory rehearsal with the international casting director on Saturday or Sunday directly following auditions.
2024 Audition Times
10:00 AM: Ages 6-11
2:00 PM: Ages 12+
What to Wear
Girls: Ballet Leotard and Tights (any color)
Boys: Athletic Top and Shorts (or fitted dance pants)
*New* Pointe Shoes (if applicable)
Students must be at least 12 years old.
Students must have 2+ years of Pointe training.
Hair: Pulled back into a ballet bun.
Rehearsal time is very limited requiring students to be available to attend all rehearsals. In the case of an emergency, students are allowed to miss one rehearsal. If a student misses a rehearsal for a non-emergency or needs to miss more than one rehearsal due to unavoidable circumstances, they will be released from the show. All rehearsals take place at Bridgeman Academy until the final Dress rehearsal on the day of the performance.
Initial Rehearsal: All roles will have a mandatory rehearsal with the international casting director directly following auditions on Saturday or Sunday.
Weekly Rehearsals: Rehearsals will take place on Saturdays during the months of November and December. There are seven rehearsals total and we do not hold rehearsal on Thanksgiving weekend.
Dress Rehearsal: Dress rehearsal at the Fox Theatre will take place the day of the first performance. Students will arrive the morning of the performance to get fitted for their costume and space their dance on stage. More information is given once a student is cast in the show.
Will all dancers be cast?
Dancers are not guaranteed a role if they audition, however, there are many roles available for children of all ages and we will cast as many dancers as possible.
Should my child wear pointe shoes to the audition?
Students should NOT wear pointe shoes unless they are at least 12 years of age and are at an intermediate / advanced pointe level. All roles can be done on flat or pointe so if your child is more comfortable in regular ballet shoes, that is what they should wear for their audition.
If my child is on Pointe, do they need to bring ballet shoes?
Yes! All students, even if they are very skilled on pointe, should bring flat ballet shoes with them as well. Some parts of the ballet are not done on pointe so students may be asked to switch into flat ballet shoes during the audition.
What costs are associated with the Production?
All dancers are required to pay a one-time $50 audition fee. This fee covers all production related costs with the exception of tickets. No tickets are included with the audition fee.
How do I purchase tickets?
Parents will receive a special link for tickets. Do not purchase any tickets until it is confirmed which performance your child will be in. We are unable to switch tickets to a different performance.
Why does my confirmation email say 9:00 am?
9:00 am is the general time that Talmi Entertainment sends out to all registrants. We will begin checking in the 6-11 year old age group at this time, but check-in for older students will not begin until 1:00 pm.
Can my child miss rehearsal for a competition / performance?
We have a very truncated rehearsal period for this show so students may not miss any rehearsals unless they are sick or have a family emergency. Doctor's notes must be provided in the case of sickness.
Can my child bring their dance bag to auditions?
No. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of students that attend this audition, students will only be allowed to bring their pointe shoe bag and water bottle with them into auditions.
If a student is no longer able to participate, will the audition fee be refunded?
Audition fees are non refundable.
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