MCB Holding Nutcracker Auditions for Children in Palm Beach

Aspiring Child Dancers of Palm Beach County Can Be A Part of Miami City Ballet’s Spectacular
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ – The Biggest Holiday Production In South Florida

Auditions to be held Sunday, August 23 at Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.

MIAMI BEACH, FL – (August 3, 2015) – For many young ballerinas, the idea of performing alongside Miami City Ballet dancers in the holiday extravaganza—George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™— would seem like a distant dream. However, for the children of Palm Beach County, the opportunity comes on Sunday, August 23, at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, where auditions will begin at 11:30am.

Each year MCB provides aspiring students ages 8 and up with previous ballet training the chance to portray several roles in the production, including party children, angels, polichinelles and even the lead role of Marie. Known for its magnificent scenery and Tchaikovsky’s magical music, the annual production is a highly anticipated staple in Miami City Ballet’s repertoire. Selected children will participate in rehearsals where they will learn and practice the ballet’s choreography and then take the stage with MCB dancers for performances at the Kravis Center Dec. 27-29.

Ballet East Director and Palm Beach rehearsal director Chelsea Nasby says, “It is such an incredible honor to have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the internationally renowned company, Miami City Ballet. MCB allows children to experience first-hand, one of the greatest ballet classics of all times. I am thrilled that young students in Palm Beach County will have the unique opportunity to share the magic of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ with Miami City Ballet once again.”

New corps de ballet member Ella Titus embarked on her lifelong dream of becoming a dancer with Miami City Ballet as a child performer in the production. Titus, who was recently featured on Teen Vogue’s web series “Strictly Ballet,” started ballet classes at age 3 after watching her first performance in her hometown of Clearwater when the company toured there. Later, she auditioned to be one of the child performers and did it for five years, even performing the lead role of Marie. When she was 14, she came to train at MCB School full time and continued to perform in the production as a student. Her dream was finally realized this year when she was offered a contract to join the corps de ballet.

“I grew up watching Miami City Ballet and fell in love right away,” says Titus. “Dancing Marie was a dream come true and now it’s unbelievable to think I get to dance in The Nutcracker with the company!”

One of the only companies in the country to perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, Miami City Ballet’s production boasts a cast of over 100, with many roles performed by children. The perfect holiday treat for the entire family, performances will take place at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on December 27-29, 2015. Tickets begin at just $25, and are available at miamicityballet.org, or by calling the MCB Box Office at 305.929.7010 or 877.929.7010 toll-free.

West Palm Beach Audition Details:
Sunday, August 23

Location: Dreyfoos School of the Arts – 501 S. Sapodilla Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Contact: Chelsea Nasby, 561.683.0096 or email BalletEastFL@gmail.com.
• Registration (Height up to 4’4”) 11:30am-12pm / Audition Class 12pm-1:30pm
• Registration (Height 4’5” to 4’10”) 1pm-1:30pm/ Audition Class 1:30pm-3:30pm
• Registration (Height 4’10” to 5’1”) 3pm-3:30pm / Audition Class 3:30-4:30pm
• Performances at the Kravis Center: Dec. 27-29, 2015

Children selected to perform will participate in daily after-school rehearsals August 24-28, followed by weekly rehearsals on Saturday and Sunday afternoons beginning Sept. 12 and leading up to the performance.