AUDITION GUIDE
Being a Company dancer requires a commitment of participation throughout the year in Westchester Ballet Company’s performances and payment of participation fees. Details are outlined in this guide. Before auditioning dancers and their parents should be familiar with the requirements for auditioning for and dancing with the Company, along with an understanding of the time commitments as laid out in the Nutcracker Rehearsal Schedule (will be finalized and available for viewing very soon).
Dancers should prepare for their audition by watching the video of Westchester Ballet Company’s 2024 Nutcracker. Dancers are also encouraged to attend the Nutcracker Workshops. Please see the information below.
Attend the Nutcracker Workshop—August 16-29
Westchester Ballet Company
Nutcracker Preparation Workshops
📍 81 Croton Avenue, 3rd Floor, Ossining, NY
🗓 August 16–29, 2025
📝 Registration Deadline: August 10, 2025
For more information and to register, visit Auditions and Workshops
Audition Schedule
Westchester Ballet Company
Nutcracker Auditions
📍 81 Croton Avenue, 3rd Floor, Ossining, NY
🗓 September 6 & 7, 2025
📝 Registration Opens August 1, 2025
Auditioning for Westchester Ballet Company’s Nutcracker is an exciting opportunity for dancers ages 6 to 18.
All dancers should arrive at least 30 minutes before their audition time to check in. Dancers should register for the audition time slot corresponding with the age they are on the audition date.
Saturday, September 6th
1:00pm-3:00pm Party Scene - dancers ages 12 and over who are 5’2” or taller AND adults (this is for teen and adult roles ONLY, NOT Party Scene Children)
3:00pm-4:00pm dancers ages 6-8 (some dancers may be asked to STAY for the later audition)
4:00pm-6:00pm dancers ages 9-11 (some dancers may be asked to RETURN on Sunday)
Sunday, September 7th
2:30pm-3:30pm Female roles, ages 12 and over, not en pointe
3:30pm-7:30pm Male roles and female roles en pointe, ages 12 and over
**Please note that dancers will be dismissed as needed throughout this time slot. An early dismissal does NOT indicate a dancer has been "cut", there are many different roles and configurations for the casting team to consider throughout the day. All Dancers should arrive with pointe shoes (if applicable), ballet slippers and character shoes if they already have them.
Not sure which audition(s) to attend? Contact joshua.mcwhortor@westchesterballet.org
Audition Attire
Please note that auditions may be filmed and/or photographed. Dancers should be “camera-ready” at auditions. Hair must be styled in a secure ballet bun with hairnet and pins; short hair should be pinned away from the face. Nails must be short and clean. No jewelry is allowed, including watches, smartwatches, fitness trackers, necklaces, rings, or bracelets. Small, non-dangling stud earrings are permitted.
Girls, aged 6-8:
· solid color leotard, no adornment (no skirt)
· pink or skin tone tights (should match slippers)
· pink or skin tone ballet slippers (should match tights)
Girls, aged 9-11:
· solid color leotard, no adornment (no skirt)
· pink or skin tone tights (should match slippers)
· pink or skin tone ballet slippers (should match tights)
Girls, aged 12-18
· solid color camisole leotard, no adornment. Simple, unembellished ballet skirt may be worn, but must be removed if requested by the Director of Casting
· pink or skin tone tights (should match slippers)
· pink or skin tone ballet slippers (should match tights)
· pointe shoes (if applicable, should match tights)
· character shoes if attending the Party Scene audition (if dancer already has them, otherwise ballet slippers are fine)
Boys:
· white or black form-fitting shirt
· black tights/leggings or form-fitting shorts
· ballet slippers
If your dancer does not already have a leotard, ballet tights or ballet slippers, please contact us at info@westchesterballet.org. We can supply these at no-cost.
Company Dancer Rankings
Junior Company
Trainee I
Trainee II
Apprentice
Corps de Ballet
Casting Decisions
All casting decisions in 2025 are the purview of Sharyn Korey, WBC’s Director of Casting for this year’s Nutcracker production. All decisions are final. No communication regarding casting is permitted between parents and anyone involved in the casting, directing or producing of WBC’s The Nutcracker. This includes Westchester Ballet Company Board Members and Artistic Directors Emeriti. Any attempt to do so will result in the forfeiture of the dancer’s invitation to be part of the Company and to participate in The Nutcracker and any other future productions.
Technical abilities and height in casting
Dancers are cast in roles the Director of Casting and Rehearsals deems appropriate to a dancer’s abilities, but height is also taken into consideration as dancers need to be similarly paired with others onstage.
Managing expectations
It is essential that dancers and their parents understand and fully appreciate that every role in a production—and every dancer in the Company— is important. We count on parents to be partners in this journey and to help manage expectations and potential disappointments.
Casting and repeating roles
WBC works very hard to give as many qualified dancers as possible the opportunity to participate in its productions and we ask our families to keep this in mind. However, not every dancer who auditions will necessarily be offered a role in The Nutcracker or an invitation to join the Company. Dancers may need more training or time to be prepared to participate in a production of this complexity. Also, it is important to note that it is very normal for a dancer to be cast in the same role(s) for several seasons in a row. This does not mean that a dancer is not improving or that they are not valued.
Eyewear
Dancers who wear eyeglasses must be able to remove them for rehearsals and performances, and still dance safely.
Declining a role
Dancers must accept all or none of the roles and understudy assignments for which they are cast. If declining their role(s), they must understand that they are also declining membership in the ballet company for the fall season. They are, however, welcome to audition again in the Spring. Please note that dancers must notify the Company Manager of their decision to decline their roles before rehearsals begin.
A dancer who withdraws from the production once rehearsals have begun will be dismissed from the Company for the season. Participation fees will not be refunded.
Role Notifications
Dancers will receive email notification regarding their Company placement and their Nutcracker role(s) within one week of their audition via the Company Manager. The email will include a link to the Dancer Agreement. This agreement must be carefully read by the dancers and their parents before it is signed and submitted. The Dancer Agreement will be available for viewing soon.
2025 Participation Fees
Junior Company - $500
Trainee I - $500
Trainee II - $600
Apprentice - $700
Corps de Ballet - $700
Fees include the cost of twelve weeks of Nutcracker rehearsals, role-specific coaching, education in professional performance practices, and unlimited access to complimentary Company Classes at Westchester Ballet Company. Depending on placement within the company, and roles cast in, dancers receive an average of 50 hours of rehearsal, plus 24 hours of company class.
Financial Assistance
Dancers may apply for financial assistance to cover and/or offset participation fees once they have been invited into the Company. Please email: info@westchesterballet.org. Please include your dancer’s name in the subject line.
Deadline To Accept Invitation—Saturday, September 13, 2025
Dancer notifications will be sent via email to the dancer’s primary parental contact. Parents must accept or decline their dancer’s invitation by noon, Saturday, September 13, 2025. Once WBC receives your acceptance, an invoice will be generated and sent to you via email. Payment of participation fees may be made by check or credit card and due before rehearsals begin (Sept. 20).
Participation Requirements
All DANCERS must:
Agree to the terms of and sign the Dancer’s Agreement.
Attend the Company Meeting prior to the start of rehearsals.
Company dancers are expected to attend all rehearsals. An absence during one of the first three setting rehearsals for a role, as well as any absences in December or May (if participating in the spring ballet), will result in immediate forfeiture of the dancer’s role(s). An unexcused absence is an infraction of the Dancer Agreement and may result in dismissal from the Company. Emergencies such as sudden illness will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Missing any rehearsal may result in a change in casting.
Attend all performance venue rehearsals for their specific roles. The Company Manager will notify all dancers and families when rehearsal dates at Lehman Center are confirmed. Details about these rehearsals will be made available on the rehearsal page at westchesterballet.org.
Attend all costume fittings.
Maintain a level of dance training associated with the dancer’s rank in the Company.
Miss two days of school for Nutcracker dress rehearsals on Thursday, December 11 and the performance on Friday, December 12.
Be available to perform on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, 2025.
PARENTS must:
Accept or decline their dancers’ roles no later than Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Agree to the terms of and sign the Dancer Agreement.
Make payment of participation fees or apply for financial assistance no later than Friday, September 19, 2025.
Review the rehearsal and performance schedule prior to accepting their child’s roles to confirm that all attendance requirements can be met.
Attend the mandatory Parent Meeting Friday, Sept. 19, 7:00-8:30 pm at 81 Croton Ave. First year parents must attend an additional meeting taking place Saturday, September 27.
Ensure that their dancer(s) arrive on time to weekly rehearsals and all performances.
Agree to never use cellular/electronic devices during any WBC performance. Recording/photographing any WBC performance is prohibited.
Each family must engage in at least one of the following volunteer activities during the Nutcracker season, and again in the spring if their dancer is cast in the Spring Ballet:
Flower Sales, Boutique, Greeters, Check In/Check Out, Costume Packing, Load In/Load Out (Strike), Wardrobe, Selling Playbill Advertisements, Organizing Playbill Special Messages, and help in Dressing Rooms.
Nutcracker Roles
There are approximately 100 roles in our production of The Nutcracker. Most roles are performed by non-professional youth dancers, but a small number of professional adult dancers are part of the cast.
Roles for younger dancers and non-pointe dancers are highlighted below in boldface. Note: Some older and more advanced-level dancers may be cast in non-pointe roles if their height allows them to perform in a particular scene.
ACT 1 ROLES
Clara
Fritz
Uncle Drosselmeyer
Party Children
Party Adults
Mechanical Dolls
Mice (Group and Solo)
Mouse King
Nutcracker
Soldiers
Snowflakes (Corps and Soloists)
Snow King and Snow Queen
ACT II ROLES
Pages
Angels
Opening Act II (Includes: Clara, Nutcracker, Flowers, Gigue, Tea from China, Flute Soloists, Dew Drop, Spanish, Sugar Plum & Cavalier)
Chocolate from Spain
Marzipan Reed Flute Soloists
Marzipan Reed Flutes Corps
Coffee from Arabia
Tea From China
Little Chinese
Caviar from Russia
Gigue from England
Mother Ginger
Group Jesters
Group Clowns
Solo Clowns
Solo Jester
Hopak from Ukraine
Dew Drop
Crystalline Flowers
Sugarplum Fairy & Her Cavalier
Finale (Includes all Act II EXCEPT NO Angles, Pages, Group Clowns, Group Jesters)
Please send all questions to info@westchesterballet.org.
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