Midland Festival Ballet 2026 Nutcracker Auditions

Friday, August 28 & Saturday, August 29

Auditions are held at the Midland Festival Ballet studios:
4410 N Midkiff Suite C-1 Midland, TX 79705

Registration is mandatory to audition.
Audition Registration is open NOW for students registered for fall classes at MFB and previous participants from other dance schools.
Registration will open to the public on August 3.

My first nutcracker - Mandatory Parent Meeting

If this is your first time participating in MFB’s The Nutcracker, one parent must attend the mandatory Parent Meeting. We will review audition info, time commitment, expectations, and answer any questions you may have.

If your dancer has never participated in The Nutcracker before and you cannot attend the Parent Meeting, your dancer will not be allowed to audition.

5:30-6:30pm on Friday, 8/21/26 at Midland Shared Spaces (3500 N. A St.) 

Nutcracker Handbook

Feel free to look at the handbook before the meeting so you can have your questions prepared!

 Audition Requirements

  • Must be enrolled in dance classes at any area dance school BEFORE the audition. No day-of enrollment. Does not have to be at Midland Festival Ballet.

  • Must be registered for the audition. (Registration will close 11:59pm Thursday, August 20, 2026.)

  • Must be healthy and not experiencing any of the following: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, aches. Please do not come to the audition with any contagious illness.

  • Age Requirement: at least 6 years old AND in 1st grade as of Sept 1, 2026

  • Female Attire: MFB Dress Code Leotard OR Black Leotard, pink tights, ballet slippers, hair in a ballet bun

  • Male Attire: White T-Shirt, Black shorts/tights, ballet slippers

  • Dancers must arrive in their audition attire and in a cover up that is they can easily put on and take off themselves. There will be no changing or hair done at the studio as the lobby will be closed.

  • Dancers attending the 6-7 and 8-10 audition should arrive with only their ballet shoes in hand. Their name must be written on the inside of their ballet shoes before arriving at the studio. Additional items (such as bags, water, etc.) will be sent back with the parent signing in.

  • We welcome you inside to drop-off and pick-up your dancers and speak with staff. However, we do not allow parents to wait in the lobby during auditions and rehearsals.

Auditions

Auditions are held at the Midland Festival Ballet Studios: 4410 N. Midkiff Suite C-1 Midland, TX 79705.

No early Drop Off.
Late arrivals will NOT be allowed to audition.

Friday August 28

Ages 13+ yrs* (Pointe work required.): Drop Off 5:45pm, Audition 6:00-8:30pm
*All MFB Ballet 6 & 7 dancers should attend this audition. Ballet 6 & 7 classes will be canceled. Company and Junior Company classes will also be canceled Saturday, Aug 29.

Saturday, August 29

Ages 6-7: Drop Off 9:00am, Audition 9:30-11:00am

Ages 8-10 yrs: Drop Off 11:15am, Audition 11:30am-1:00pm

Ages 11-12 yrs*: Drop Off 1:15, Audition 1:30-3:00pm (bring pointe shoes if applicable)
*All MFB Ballet 5 dancers should attend this audition.

Clara & Fritz: Drop Off 2:45pm, Audition 3:00-5:00pm
(must be 11+ years to audition, bring pointe shoes if applicable)

Casting will be posted on Friday, Sept 4 after 10am at the studio and online.

Casting is final and cannot be disputed. Repeat and understudy roles are expected. If your dancer is not willing to repeat a role, we ask that they not audition.

Register

Audition Registration is open NOW for students registered for fall classes at MFB and previous participants from other dance schools. Registration will open to the public on August 3.

Production Fees

Each dancer is responsible for a non-refundable $200 production fee, due on or before September 10.

This will be charged using Auto Pay through your Dance Studio Pro account.

Attendance Policy

It is important for the quality of the production that cast members attend all rehearsals.
Please do not audition if you cannot adhere to the Attendance Policy.

  • Costume Fittings, First Rehearsal, Hair & Make-Up Demo, Tech Week* rehearsals and Dress Rehearsal are mandatory.

  • More than two missed rehearsals may result in removal from the Nutcracker cast.

  • Known absences must be communicated in writing to info@midlandfestivalballet.org before the First Rehearsal.

  • Absence due to illness must be communicated as soon as possible via email to info@midlandfestivalballet.org.

Mandatory Dates

Please reserve the following days if you plan to audition.

September 4 - Casting announced after 10am at the studio and online.

September 10 - Dancer Contract due, and non-refundable Production Fee paid via Auto Pay.

October 3 - Hair and Makeup Demonstration for first time participants at Midland Shared Spaces (3500 N A St Midland, TX 79705)

December 5-10 - Tech Week Rehearsals

December 11 - Dress Rehearsal at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center with the West Texas Symphony

December 12 & 13 - Performances at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center

December 13 - Cast Party in the Rea Greathouse Recital Hall immediately following performance

 

Costume Fittings

Costume Fittings are mandatory. Please reserve the following days if you plan to audition.

SATURDAY 9/12/26 @ MIDLAND FESTIVAL BALLET STUDIOS
9:00-10:15am - Angels
10:00-11:15am - Soldiers
11:00am-12:15pm - Mice

SUNDAY 9/20/26 @ MIDLAND FESTIVAL BALLET STUDIOS
1:00-2:30pm - Bon Bons

SUNDAY 9/27/26 @ MIDLAND FESTIVAL BALLET STUDIOS
2:00-4:00pm - Party Children, Clara, & Fritz

 

First Rehearsals

First Rehearsals are mandatory. Please reserve the following days if you plan to audition.

September 8 - Snow

September 13 - Bon Bons & Party Children

September 19 - Angels, Soldiers & Mice