2026 Nutcracker Ballet

Twin Cities Ballet Company's

44th Annual

Nutcracker Ballet Weekend

December 4-6, 2026 

Illinois State University

Braden Auditorium

 

*Experience the Nutcracker Tradition*

 

| PERFORMANCES | *new

| FRIDAY SCHOOL/COMMUNITY MATINEE | *new

| SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE | *coming soon

| TICKETS | *on sale in Oct.

(updated 9/21/26)

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

 

PERFORMANCES

 

Illinois State University
Braden Auditorium

(Inside the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St., Normal)

  • Friday, Dec. 4, 10:00 a.m. – School/Community Matinee Performance*
  • Friday, Dec. 4, 7:00 p.m. – Traditional Performance
  • Saturday, Dec. 5, 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. – Nutcracker Experience (1:00-2:30 p.m.) & Performance (3:00 p.m.)*
  • Sunday, Dec. 6, 2:00 p.m. – Traditional Performance

*Note: Friday morning and Saturday performances are shorter 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 tcbdance@outlook.com for more details.

This performance is sponsored and made possible by the Town of Normal's Harmon Arts Grant.

 

SATURDAY NUTCRACKER EXPERIENCE

 

*Experience this Fun, Family-Friendly Nutcracker event!

More details coming soon...

 

TICKETS

 

***Tickets orders are available now to schools, home-school families, and community groups.***

***Tickets for Friday Evening's Traditional Performance (12/4), Saturday's Nutcracker Experience & Family-Friendly Performance (12/5), and Sunday's Traditional Matinee Performance (12/6) will be onsale at ISU's Braden Box Office and Ticketmaster in mid-October.

More details coming soon...

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***For Dancers & Dance Families***

Keep watching this page for more details...

(updated 9/21/2026)

| 2026 NUTCRACKER INFO PACKET | *coming soon

 

| KEY DATES | *new

| SATURDAY REHEARSALS | *new

 | CASTING: AUDITIONS/SIGN-UP |*new

| PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS | *new

 

*Coming Soon...

| TECH WEEK REHEARSALS || PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES |

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

| VOLUNTEERS || FLOWERS || PICTURES |

| NUTCRACKER APPAREL |

| PROGRAM ADS || ISU HOMECOMING |

 

 KEY DATES
 

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

Check back for more key dates & details as they are available...

 
SATURDAY REHEARSALS
 

Part Rehearsals - October 3, 10, 17, 24

  • 11:30-12:30 - Bon Bons (*no Bon Bons rehearsal on 10/24 due to parade)
  • 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)

All-Cast Rehearsals - October 31 & November 7, 14, 21

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 quicker or longer than expected. With this in mind, please make sure to arrive early to ensure that your dancer does not miss their part.

**Rehearsal Reminder: Tech Week Rehearsals begin for all cast members on Sunday, Nov. 29, through Thursday, Dec. 3. (tech rehearsal details coming 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.)

Auditions & Cast Sign-up Details

  • Party Girl auditions will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, 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. 26, 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. 27, at 10:00 a.m.
    • Sign-up by registering online beginning at 10:00 a.m. on 9/27.
    • Dancers may sign-up for up to 2 of these roles, unless previously selected for a Party Girl and/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.)

 

PARTICIPATION FEES & MEDIA/VIDEOS

 

The annual Nutcracker Participation Fee includes benefits for our dancers and our dance school (and will be added directly to accounts this Fall.)

Twin Cities Ballet Company

  • 2026 Fee: n/a (now included in overall Company Wardrobe Fee paid for the full Company Season)
  • What's still included: Nutcracker T-shirt, Nutcracker media access*, and annual costume use and cleaning/maintenance

Non-Company Cast Members

  • 2026 Fee: $120 for two parts, $100 for one part
  • Fee Includes: Nutcracker T-shirt and Nutcracker media access*
  • Fee Also Covers: annual non-company Nutcracker registration fee and Nutcracker costume rental and cleaning/maintenance

*Nutcracker Media Access: As part of these fees, all cast members will receive digital video links to both traditional performances (Friday and Sunday shows), plus access to view an online picture gallery and purchase the pictures taken during dress rehearsal at ISU.

 

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Photography credit: Running N Heels Photography.