Imagine your son or daughter getting to take the Robinson Center stage with professional ballerinas for an incredible performance featuring music from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and two choral ensembles.

The largest holiday production in Arkansas, "The Nutcracker Spectacular," features a community cast of more than 200 children and adults, and auditions are just around the corner.

Starting at as young as 6 years old, students play the roles of mice, angels, snowflakes and even the iconic part of Clara. 

Auditions for this year’s Nutcracker Community Cast will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Shuffles & Ballet II (1521 Merrill Drive, Little Rock, AR 72211). Dancers must have at least one year of training and be currently enrolled in dance classes. 

Audition times are as follows:

  • Ages 13 & up: 9-10:30 a.m. (sign in at 8:30 a.m.)
  • Ages 6-7: 11 a.m.-noon (sign in at 10 a.m.)
  • Ages 8-9: 12:30-2 p.m. (sign in at 11:30 a.m.)
  • Ages 10-12: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (sign in at 1:30 p.m.)

Read more about the process of auditioning and see three students who starred in last year's production here. For details on dress code, fees, scheduling and other audition information, visit Ballet Arkansas' website.

Dancers who are accepted into the cast will rehearse from September through December, before taking the stage the week of Dec. 9-15.

"The Nutcracker Spectacular" features four public performances: Friday, Dec. 7 a 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Dec. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $18-102 and are available online.