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 | *new

| FRIDAY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY MATINEE | *coming soon

| SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE | *coming soon

| TICKETS | *coming soon

(updated 9/06/2025)

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

*TCSD Dance Families: Check out the 2024 Nutcracker site for a full preview/reminder

of all the info you will need to know for this annual tradition!

(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...

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***For Dancers & Dance Families***

Keep watching this page for more details...

(updated 9/06/25)

| 2025 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET | *coming soon

| KEY DATES | *new

 | CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP | *new

Coming Soon...

| SATURDAY REHEARSALS |

| 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 |

 | ISU HOMECOMING |

(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)
• Sunday, Sept. 28 – Cast Sign-up (Angels/Mice/Soldiers/Party Boys)
• Saturday, Oct. 4 – Saturday Part Rehearsals Begin
• Saturday, Oct. 18 – ISU Homecoming Parade (featuring Claras, Snow Queens, and The Nutcracker)
  • *All TCSD dancers and families are invited to walk with us in the parade – so everyone should SAVE THE DATE!
• Saturday, Nov. 1 – Saturday All-Cast Rehearsals Begin
• Sunday, Nov. 30 – Tech Week Begins

More key dates & details coming soon...

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.)

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.