Nutcracker Ballet Youth Auditions Seattle

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet 

Your child could perform on stage in the Seattle Nutcracker performance at the Moore Theater.

nutcracker, seattle nutcracker, Moscow Ballet, American Dance Institute

The 2023 performance of Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet! was a smashing success.

Nutcracker ballet youth auditions, Seattle were held on Friday, September 6th at 5:00 PM at the American Dance Institute Shoreline studios, 1240 NE 175th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155. Eighty (80) teens and children were cast for the two shows!

We are elated to have Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (formerly Moscow Ballet) returns to Seattle in 2024 for their Dance with Us program. American Dance Institute will once again be their host school.

Youth Cast Audition

Please remember that each year, Nutcracker Ballet youth auditions are open to all Greater Seattle students who have at least one year of ballet training at the time of auditions and are currently enrolled in a local dance school.

To keep updated on auditions for 2024's performance, please join our mailing list here. 

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet's Dance with Us program has brought tens of thousands of student dancers onstage to perform annually in a professional environment for 26 years—a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many children!

                Nutcracker Performance Information

When: November 17, 2024
Where:  Moore Theatre, downtown Seattle
What Time: 1.00 PM and 5.00 PM (subject to change)

Nutcracker Seattle Cast Audition Info 

When: Friday, September 6, 2024
Where:  American Dance Institute’s Shoreline Studio, 1240 NE 175th Street, 98155
What Time: 5:00-7:00 PM with rehearsals starting immediately after for some groups until 9:00pm.

Nutcracker Ballet youth auditions are open to all dancers ages 6–18 in the greater Seattle area who have had at least one year of ballet training and are enrolled or will be enrolled in a ballet class for the Fall season.

All auditioning dancers should pre-register at Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet's website here: Nutcracker! Audition Form

Prior to the audition, parents and dancers should carefully read through the information on the FAQ for Students page on the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet's website, as it has helpful information about rehearsal policies, costume information, and performance FAQ's.

If cast, dancers need to be available to learn the choreography from  
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet's audition director on:

  • Friday, September 6th, after auditions until 9:00pm at ADI Shoreline. Not all roles will be required to stay.
  • *Updated 8/30: Saturday, September 7th, 10:00am-5:00pm at ADI Shoreline. The remaining roles will rehearse sometime between 10:00am-5:00pm but not for the entire time.
  • Ongoing with ADI staff every weekend from September 21st through November 16th.  

*September 6th and 7th rehearsals schedules will be announced after the audition. The September 21st-November 16th rehearsal schedule will be announced a few days after the audition.

*Updated 8/30: Most performers will have ongoing rehearsals on either Saturday or Sunday afternoons/evenings, but likely not both days.  Dancers must be available for whichever day/time they are assigned. There will be a mandatory all-cast rehearsal on Saturday, November 16th, from 3:30-5:30pm at ADI Shoreline.

There is a casting fee of $50.00 that will be paid to Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet when registering for auditions, and a $200 rehearsal fee that will be paid to American Dance Institute if cast.

Limited scholarships are available. Please inquire in the office: at (206-783-0755).

The Dancing Roles to be Cast For Seattle Performance

ACT I SCENES:

Party Children: ages 7–11; 6 girls and 6 boys (or girls dressed as boys)

Mice: Ages 10–12

Little Snowflakes: Ages 6–8 (Note: Must have 1 year ballet training)

ACT II:

Snow Maidens: Ages 10–14

Snow Sprites: 4 girls ages 10–14, pointe optional


Spanish: 2 dancers ages 8–10 & 2 dancers ages 12–18, pointe optional

Chinese: 2 dancers ages 8–10 & 2 older dancers ages 12–18, pointe optional

Russian: 2 dancers ages 8–10 & 2 dancers ages 11–18

French: 2 dancers ages 7-8

Arabian: 2 dancers ages 12-18, pointe optional

More information: www.nutcracker.com

There will be two performances in Seattle at the Moore Theater, November 17th at 1 PM and 5 PM

Join our 2024 Great Russian Nutcracker Mailing list for all the latest information.


The New York Times Says...

Moscow Ballet: ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’

When Russians are involved, there are bound to be certain advantages: a magnetic sense of theater, along with decent costumes and sets. This “Nutcracker” unfolds at Mayor Stahlbaum’s annual Christmas Eve Ball — a hot ticket, apparently — and features the dancers Ekaterina Bortiakova and Akzhol Mussakhanov in the leads, as well as new set designs by Carl Sprague, who is known for his work in films like “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” His Waltz of the Flowers scene is inspired by the gardens in the Grand Palace of Peterhof in St. Petersburg. 

Nutcracker, Moscow Ballet, American Dance Institute

60-100 Seattle dance students will dance with the Moscow Ballet in their Seattle performance of the Great Russian Nutcracker this November.

Behind The Scenes Of Seattle's Cutest Nutcracker Auditions

2017 Seattle area cast members for the Great Russian Nutcracker.


Komo Television's Seattle Refined recorded portions of Seattle's Moscow Ballet Nutcracker auditions and they interviewed participants at American Dance Institute's Greenwood Studios. 

Watch it now:Behind The Scenes Of The Cutest Nutcracker Auditions


Moscow Ballet Soloists/Audition Directors tour the country conducting auditions for student dancers at Moscow Ballet’s local host dance studios from August through October.

Student dancers, boys and girls, ages 6 to 18 years, who have at least one year of ballet training, may audition for ancillary roles in the Great Russian Nutcracker such as Party Children, Mice, Snowflakes, Angels and more.

The selected children will rehearse at our host dance studio: American Dance Institute, and perform in the Great Russian Nutcracker at Seattle's Paramount Theater.

Los Angeles Times, Lewis Segal, “Christmas cheer...virtuosity...faultless mastery”

 New York Times, Chief Dance Critic, “Knockout, brimful with feeling, kids...wide-eyed delight”

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Eric Harrison, “Dazzlingly shows Russian roots, sterling style”

 Calgary Herald, Stephen BonfieldTechnically supreme dancing, opulent, magical moments”