At Atlanta Ballet, the magic of the holidays begins in September, when Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education students audition for roles in The Nutcracker.

Children’s cast auditions were held at the Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre in West Midtown, and out of many hopefuls from Creative Movement, Student Division and Academy, ages six and up, over 200 talented dancers were selected to perform the roles of Chicks, Young Mice, Toy Soldiers and Party Children. The Centre also hosted a separate audition to select gymnasts appearing in the production as Star Acrobats from local metro Atlanta gymnastics schools.

Sharing the stage with Atlanta Ballet Company and Atlanta Ballet 2 dancers, working with choreographers and dancing to the iconic Tchaikovsky score performed by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra are wonderful opportunities to experience the art of performance at the professional level. Some of the students you will see in The Nutcracker may one day pursue a professional dance career and delight audiences for years to come.

Camille Jackson, who was promoted to Atlanta Ballet 2 this season, first performed in The Nutcracker in 2014 as a Snow Fairy when she was eight years old. Camille had been a student of the Centre for Dance Education since she was four. “The Nutcracker children’s roles showcase the next generation of dancers to the Atlanta stage,” she enthuses. “Dancing in The Nutcracker truly shaped my passion for ballet and for music, as it was my first-time hearing Tchaikovsky.”

Look out for Kahlen Wright in this year’s Nutcracker, as she plays the role of Young Marie. Kahlen’s first role in The Nutcracker was a Party Child when she was a student in Academy I. She is now in Academy VI. “My favorite part of being in this production is gaining experience from the opportunity to perform with Company dancers in rehearsals and on stage. I’m incredibly honored and excited to be playing the role of Young Marie this year and look forward to adding more of my personality into this playful character.”

Enrollment at the official school of Atlanta Ballet is one of the criteria to be invited to audition for a role in The Nutcracker. The Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education offers dance classes for all ages, interests, and experience levels, at three convenient locations in Buckhead, West Midtown and Virginia-Highland. Registration is open for the spring term, commencing January 2, 2024.

Let Atlanta Ballet and the children’s cast transport you and your family into the magical world of The Nutcracker this holiday season. Cobb Energy Centre, December 8 to 26.