Frequently Asked Questions

  • Girls should wear black leotards only, with pink or skin-tone tights and ballet shoes. Boys should wear black shorts or leggings, white t-shirts, and ballet shoes. Children may bring a light jacket or sweater to keep warm.
  • For dress rehearsals, children must follow the costume and makeup requirements for their role.

Children should bring a water bottle to each rehearsal. Bags can be brought inside the building but are not allowed in the studio. We recommend that phones, tablets, and computers be left at home.  If children bring these items to the studios, they must be kept in their bags.  Sacramento Ballet is not responsible for personal belongings.  Please be sure to label all personal items brought to the studios.

Most rehearsals are on Saturdays and can be anywhere between 45 minutes and 5 hours depending on the role and how close it is to opening night.

To get an idea of the time commitment, please go to ROLES.

 

  • When you accept a role, you are making a commitment to participate in all scheduled activities, including costume fittings, rehearsals, and performances.
  • Anticipated absences should be communicated as soon as possible to the Nutcracker Team. Excessive absences will affect your child’s right to participate.
  • Absences will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Nutcracker Artistic Team and they will make the final decision on the child’s participation.
  • If your child contracts Covid, please keep them home and email nutcracker.info@sacballet.org immediately.

Yes, the purpose of these rehearsals is for the different roles to interact. If there is a reason to change the schedule, the Nutcracker Team will communicate the change to everyone who is impacted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dress rehearsals will be held at the Theater.

Children must follow the costume, hair, and makeup requirements for their role.

Children may bring a bag with ballet shoes, and cover-up clothing. Children may bring phones/tablets or quiet activities such as cards or other games.

No pens, markers, colored pencils, stickers, scissors, or other items that can damage or stain the costumes are allowed backstage at the Theater. Food is not allowed backstage.

Frequently Asked Questions

On the website:
We are still finalizing the schedule, but it will be added to the website as soon as it is finalized

Roles

Please be sure to check the date and time at the top of each schedule to confirm you have the most current version.

Role leads will also communicate schedule changes to parents.

 

Parents are invited to volunteer as Role Leads or Rehearsal Assistants. If you are not volunteering, you may stay by the coffee shop, but we respectfully ask that you do not congregate by any of the studios.

No, parents are not allowed to watch the rehearsals in the studio.

Parents may wait quietly in the audience with their children for staging rehearsals; please leave when the children are finished. Parents may not watch in the audience during dress rehearsals, but are welcome to volunteer backstage.

All children under the age of 14 must be escorted by an adult to sign in for auditions and rehearsals. Children under the age of 14 will be released to an adult after the audition and rehearsals.

The theater is in the middle of downtown Sacramento and we take the safety of all of our dancers seriously. All children’s cast members under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult to be dropped off and picked up at the theater.

Please visit this page again as the Nutcracker season progresses. Specific information will be provided at a later date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please ask an adult friend or relative to pick up your child. If that is not possible, we will keep your child backstage until after the performance. Please send a quiet activity with your child while they’re waiting, and let us know in advance as well as at check-in so we can account for your child.

Children may bring a bag with ballet shoes, and to store their cover-up clothing. Children may bring phones/tablets or quiet activities such as cards or other games.

No pens, markers, colored pencils, stickers, scissors, or other items that can damage or stain the costumes are allowed backstage at the Theater. Food is not allowed backstage.

Drop Off Location

 

Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center

1114 14th St, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA

Frequently Asked Questions

No, taking photos in the studios, backstage, and during the performance are all prohibited by Sac Ballet policy, copyright law, and union restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • *NEW* Silent Auction Assistants: Help oversee our auction items, solicit in-kind donations, brainstorm and put together packages, and post them on our auction website.
  • *NEW* Costume Managers: If you’re detail-oriented and love working with costumes this one’s for you! This role includes collecting, tracking, and managing our beautiful costumes and maintaining a laundry schedule.
  • Role Leads: This position oversees other roles and ensure smooth operations. Previous volunteer experience prefered but not necessary!
  • Rehearsals: Volunteers in this role will arrive 15 min early to rehearsals, assist with lining up dancers, take attendance, and help with various tasks to support the rehearsal process.
  • Performances: Volunteers in this role assist in the dressing rooms and backstage, act as stage runners, and ensure everything runs smoothly during the performances.
  • Security: Ensure the safety of dancers by verifying authorized guardians during pick-up after rehearsals and performances.
  • Nutcracker Tea: Join the fun and choose from a variety of tasks such as decorating, setting tables, registration and more. This is also a fantastic opportunity for our high school aged dancers to serve as mentors and earn volunteer hours. (Role Leads Needed)
  • Cast Party: Help make our cast party a memorable event by assisting with various tasks and activities. (Role Lead Needed)
  • Lobby Decoration: If you have a flare for creativity and a passion for making spaces look beautiful, join our team to help decorate our lobby! (Role Lead Needed)
  • Clara’s Corner: Retail positions are available to sell Nutcracker and Sac Ballet merchandise. (Role Lead Needed)

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Nutcracker.info@sacballet.org. Volunteers will be asked to provide their fingerprints for a Department of Justice fingerprint and background check. Sacramento Ballet will be hosting a fingerprint scan event (Date to be determined).

 

Volunteering for backstage duties is rewarding and fun!  Among the benefits, you will be able to observe how a professional ballet is produced and performed, see all the children’s roles and costumes backstage, and spend quality time with your child in a unique and memorable way.

Additionally, if you volunteer for a role at the Theater–Role Lead, Security, or Backstage Chaperone–you will be compensated with Nutcracker tickets as follows:

  • Role Leads: 2 tickets
  • Volunteers working performances/runs/dress rehearsals: 1 ticket

Costume Care Reminders