Early to mid-December each year. The 2026 dates are DECEMBER 10-13.  We expect to have 2 casts and 6 performances. Each cast performs three times. Each show lasts about one hour and thirty minutes.

Saturday, Nov 21 - Mandatory In-Studio Dress Rehearsal

Saturday, Dec 5 - Mandatory Full Cast Run-Through at Old City studio

Thursday, Dec 10 – Red Cast Dress Rehearsal

Friday, Dec 11 – Green Cast Dress Rehearsal

Saturday, Dec 12  –  10:30a, 2:00p & 5:30p Performances

Sunday, Dec 13 – 10:30a, 2:00p & 5:30p Performances

In a local theater. This year's performances will be held at the Mandell Theater at Drexel University, 33rd & Chestnut Streets (3220 Chestnut St), Philadelphia, PA.

Students currently enrolled in the Primary and Pre-Professional ballet programs (Ballet 1 and higher) at the Philadelphia Dance Academy are eligible to participate. All Ballet 1/1X dancers need to be at least 6 years old by the audition date to be eligible to participate. The Adult/Teen ballet classes are not eligible to participate.

The participation fee is $400 and is automatically charged to the primary credit card on file on the first day of rehearsal. This includes a Nutcracker t-shirt and a digital download of the performance. This does not include any tickets or photographs.

The first rehearsal will be Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 10:00a-6:00p.  Students rehearse at our main Old City location on the weekends. Most rehearsals are Saturdays between 1:00pm and 6:30pm. Some groups may rehearse on Sundays.  Most cast members will not need to be there the entire time, just for one or two hours.

You may miss only one rehearsal, although we would prefer you do not miss rehearsal. This is very important. Young dancers need all their fellow cast members present in order to best learn spacing and choreography.

Dancers may not miss the mandatory dress rehearsals or in-studio run-through.  If you have a conflict for these dates, you should opt out of participating.

We provide all costumes. In addition to these borrowed costumes, students must wear their own nude undergarment leotards, footed pink or flesh toned tights, and pink or flesh toned ballet slippers. The tights and shoes should be the same color. 

Other footwear may be required depending on the role. Boys may be required to wear a specific color tights or socks depending on their role.

Yes. There is a mandatory Dress Rehearsal for each cast, once at the studio and once at the theater venue the week of the show.  

Mandatory Dress Rehearsal is scheduled for:

Saturday, November 21 - Mandatory Dress Rehearsal @ Old City studio

Saturday, December 5 - Mandatory Full-Cast Run-Through @ Old City studio

Thursday, December 10 – Red Cast Dress Rehearsal @ Mandell Theater

Friday, December 11 – Green Cast Dress Rehearsal @ Mandell Theater

They are $30-$45 per ticket. They vary in price depending on seat location and go on sale online on October 1.  Performances sell out quickly.

There will be a Cast Member Ticket Pre-Sale on September 29-30.  Families will be able to purchase a set number of tickets using an access code.  This number will be determined by number of participants and seating capacity.  For example, for the 2025 production families were able to purchase 14 tickets during the pre-sale.  This code is for cast members' immediate families and not to be shared.

One parent/guardian will pick up each child in the hallway to the left of the theater doors.  Tell a staff member your child’s name, and they will bring your child to you. Only staff members and backstage volunteers are allowed in the dressing room. Dismissal typically takes about 20-25 minutes.

Dancers that are only in Act I are allowed to be dismissed during the intermission between Act I and Act II.   An email is sent to eligible families before the tickets go on sale.  If you do not respond to the email and communicate your early dismissal request 48 hours before the performances, your dancer cannot be dismissed during intermission.

YOU MAY NOT PICK UP YOUR CHILD DURING THE PERFORMANCE.  Dismissal will be done by staff members at the end of the show if they are in Act II.

Dancers will receive a digital download of the performances in late January.  This is included in the cost of participation.