America's Ballet School Holds Auditions For The Nutcracker Performances

For most of us, August is a little early to be thinking about the upcoming winter holiday season, but auditions are being held now for the classic Nutcracker ballet performances scheduled in December.
 
The America's Ballet School based in Tampa hosted its first audition on Aug. 14. A second audition will be held later this month on Saturday, Aug. 28, at the America's Ballet School studios. Dancers as young as 5-years-old are invited to audition, be trained and appear on stage in the Nutcracker performances.

The experience is a coveted one for many dancers as the America's Ballet School has won the Outstanding School Award for the past three years at the Youth American Grand Prix, the world's largest student ballet competition. Students who have trained under the direction of internationally acclaimed dancer, Paula Nunez, the Artistic Director and founder of America's Ballet School, have gone on to accomplish their own dance achievements. For instance, James Applewhite of Blake High School attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre on scholarship; Asia Bui received a scholarship to dance at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton; and Billy Elliot received a full scholarship to attend the summer intensive at the American Ballet Theatre. All were students at the America's Ballet School.

While no prior dance experience is necessary, students from various ballet schools throughout Florida attend the auditions. Auditions may be booked by calling 813-558-0800.

"Auditions are an exciting time because new talent surfaces and students often discover their love for the art," says Nunez.

Selected performers will dance in America's Ballet School production of the Nutcracker. "Performance dates are scheduled for Dec. 9-11, 2010 at the Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts, and we're tentatively scheduled to perform at the University of South Florida on Dec. 12, 2010," says Nunez.

Enrollment for the fall semester at America's Ballet School begins August 24 and classes begin August 30. Another important dance event to remember is the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition, which will be hosted in Tampa this year from October 21-24.

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Paula Nunez, America's Ballet School