August 26, 2024
Story by Joe Vinduska
The Barton Dance Department will host auditions for its upcoming “Nutcracker for the Golden Belt” production from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 31 in Studio 34 on the Barton Campus, with callbacks at 2 p.m. that afternoon.
Auditions for this classic holiday ballet are open to dance students ages seven and up. Ballet experience is not required for all sections, but taking ballet classes is highly recommended during the Nutcracker production season. The auditions will have two sessions, one from 10-11 a.m. for ages 7-11 and the other from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 12-18. Dancers will need to arrive 15 minutes before their audition time. Adults interested in performing in Act I’s “Party Scene” should contact Barton Dance Instructor and Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts Danika Bielek at bielekd@bartonccc.edu.
“I also want to encourage all who want to be in the ‘Nutcracker’ to contact me even if they might not meet all the experience recommendations or requirements. We want to strive to find creative ways for everyone that wants to be a part of this production to contribute in some way, even if they’re not quite at the level some of the other dancers might be.”
Dance experience is required for all roles except adults in Act I. For ages 7- 11, dance, gymnastics, or sports experience is a plus but not necessary. Dance experience is mandatory for those auditioning in the 12-18-year category, with the additional requirement of currently attending dance classes. Dancers should come to the audition warmed up and dressed to dance.
Bielek said the Nutcracker project was inspired by a desire to promote ballet in the region while creating a new holiday tradition for the community.
“Aly Smith (Aly’s Dance Studio) and Maddy Rideaux (Be Dance Studio), and I have been talking about ways to bring more ballet technique to their dance students for a while,” she said. “Ballet is the foundation of dance performed on the stage, but sometimes students shy away from it because it is difficult and takes time to see progress. Creating our own homegrown “Nutcracker” as a collaborative project will help dance students experience the prize at the end of this process, which results in a magical production for all ages. Literally, earning that tutu.”
“Nutcracker for the Golden Belt” is funded through an “Arts Everywhere” grant of $10,000 from the Kansas Creative Arts and Industries Commission. These grants were awarded to 42 Kansas counties, including Barton, with special interest to promote the arts in rural communities. The KCAIC grants are funded through the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kansas Legislature. Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said it is important for the state to engage, connect, and support the abundant creativity that can be found throughout Kansas.
“The Kelly-Toland Administration knows strategic investments in the arts enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and enhance our quality of life — all which make our state the best in the nation to live, work, and play,” he said.
To register for auditions or for more information, contact Barton Instructor of Dance and Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Danika Bielek at bielekd@bartonccc.edu, (620) 792-9253, or visit shows.bartonccc.edu.
“A Nutcracker for the Golden Belt” will take place Nov. 21, 23, and 24. The show is being produced in conjunction with Aly’s Dance Studio and Be. Studios, which are both located in Great Bend.