3086 El Camino Real, Santa Clara CA 95051 www.santaclaraballet.org Nutcracker Documents 1. General Information 2. Production Information 3. Green Room/Backstage Reminders 4. Costume, Hair & Make-Up Requirements 5. Hair & Make-Up Checklist 6. Dress Rehearsal & Performance Schedules Forms 1. Rehearsal Conflict Form 2. Pre-Performance Activities 3. Onsite Performance Activities 4. Dancer’s Contract 5. Liability & Publicity Release 6. Emergency and Identification Information 7. Acknowledgement Form NUTCRACKER 2010 General Information: The Santa Clara Ballet Company will accept dancers who audition based on their talent, interest and commitment. Dancers will be cast accordingly, taking into consideration their full commitment, interest and the involvement of the parents in the production. The Santa Clara Ballet Association is a non- profit organization and receives partial funding from the City of Santa Clara. The Company does a Spring/Summer Concert and the full production of The Nutcracker which usually brings in a full house in the 607-seat theater at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The Company brings to the community professional and quality productions featuring guest artists dancing in principal roles. This provides an opportunity to all aspiring dancers to perform and experience performing in a professional setting. The Nutcracker production incurs a lot of expenses. Therefore, the Company depends largely on your support both financially and by volunteering time for various production needs. We have done it for over 36 years and with the help of our Parents/Dancers and Friends Volunteer Team, made out successfully. This year, we hope to do it again with your full commitment. The Nutcracker production entails several projects such as: Ticket Sales Soliciting Memberships Advertisement Corporate and Studio/Online Sales Corporate & Individual Web, Media, Schools. Libraries, Stores Fund Raising Costumes Backstage Wardrobe Holiday Boutique Sew, Mend, and Fit Dressers, Chaperones, Make-up Food Concession Wash, Iron Wardrobe helpers Refurbish /Make Accessories Backstage Crew Load and Unload props and Scenery Transport Costumes, Prepare Floor Change Scenery Parent Meeting Adult dancers and Parents are expected to attend the first mandatory ‘Informational Meeting’. This meeting will also be indicative of your/your child’s true interest in participating in this production. We will discuss the above items and take suggestions to help improve what we have done in the past. We will also discuss mandatory requirements as well as volunteer projects outlined below. 1st Mtg - Sept. 19, 12:30-1:30pm 2nd Mtg -Oct. 9, 11:00-12:00pm 3rd Mtg.- Nov. 13, 11:00-12:00 pm Mandatory Fees Participation & Dancer’s Fee: $350 (non-refundable) Ticket Sales: 30 tickets or more Pre-Ballet dancers casted for only the “Angel” role: Participation & Dancer’s Fee: $300 (non-refundable) Ticket Sales: 30 tickets or more Please remember that the above requirements are minimal compared to school recitals, competitions etc. that require entrance fee and don’t include costumes. The Santa Clara Ballet will provide several costumes that will be needed for assigned roles. Rehearsals Rehearsals may tentatively start on September 25. Please go to the website www.santaclaraballet.org for the schedule. Nutcracker Production 2010 _______________________________________________________________________ PERFORMANCE DATES December 11 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. December 12 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. VENUE Santa Clara Convention Center 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054 CASTING All dancers will be cast to their best advantage. Dancers may be cast in one or more roles and the Director will decide which role/roles is best after several weeks of rehearsal. Partial casting will be posted a week before rehearsals commence. UNDERSTUDIES An understudy does not necessarily imply that he/she will be performing, but should be ready at all times in the event that he/she will be needed. All understudies are required to learn the role and be present at all rehearsals. FEES Participation fee has to be paid before participants can rehearse. NO ONE will be allowed to rehearse unless fully paid. Participation fee is non-refundable once the dancer has commenced rehearsal. (Special consideration may be given at the discretion of the Board) REHEARSAL Rehearsals will be scheduled on SATURDAYS and/or SUNDAYS. Special rehearsals may be called as the need arises. ABSENCES Dancers will be allowed only one (1) absence. Inexcusable absences after then will be a cause for replacement of the role. For special circumstances, please contact Marite. CONTRACT All dancers, parents/guardians must sign a Contractual Letter of Agreement with the Santa Clara Ballet Company before a participant will be allowed to rehearse. TECHNICAL / DRESS REHEARSAL Everyone is REQUIRED to be at the Dress Rehearsals on Friday, December 10, at the Santa Clara Convention Center Theater. No one is excused. PARENT MEETINGS Follow up meetings are mandatory for all parents/guardians/dancers at the Ballet Studio . September 19, 12:30-1:30 pm . October 9, 12:30-1:30 pm . November 13, 12:30-1:30 pm ANNOUNCEMENTS It will be the dancer’s/parents responsibility to check rehearsals schedules and notices on the Bulletin Board. Updated rehearsal schedules and other announcements are also available via our website at: http://www.santaclaraballet.org Green Room/Back Stage Reminders Volunteers Thirteen (13) volunteers are needed for each performance. Everyone should attend the technical rehearsal on Friday, December 11 to know what to expect. Back stage volunteers should wear black clothing to minimize visibility from the audience. Everyone will be asked to handle various assignments in each act. General Guidelines Children need to be reminded to keep their voices down and to stay in the Green Room unless accompanied by an adult, waiting for their cues in the wings or on stage. No running around the backstage areas. Eating and drinking in costumes is not allowed. There should also be NO eating in the Green Room, only in the outside hallway area. Use discretion in what snacks you bring (i.e., nothing messy, no chocolate, no Cheetos nor Doritos!!) All costumes have been assigned. Please, NEVER appropriate somebody else’s costume and discourage the children from doing it! It just makes more problems. Pay attention to the alternate schedules and Finale assignments. Male chaperones are not allowed in the Green Room. The Green Room is used by both young and older children (pre-teens). Since this is the designated changing room, the older children are uncomfortable with the presence of adult males. Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated. The backstage crew can use your help. The Green Room is only for the use of the dancers and the female adult chaperones. Only authorized personnel are allowed. Please do not bring any member of your family (younger siblings, aunts, cousins, grandparents, etc). They can see your star after the end of the performance on stage. What to Bring Make-up and hair is the dancers’/parents’ responsibility. Hair should be in a tight, neat bun with no bangs, no fancy hair do-dads/snoods. Bring a make-up kit, extra bobby pins, brush, and hairnets to keep the buns tidy. The young children don’t need a lot of make-up. Bring books, “quiet” games, coloring books, etc. to keep the kids entertained during slow times. Avoid noisy things and things that can stain costumes (paint, markers, crayons, etc.). Please make sure your dancers have all the appropriate tights, leotards and shoes. Extra tights, both black and pink are a good idea in case of runs/holes. Black knee-highs or socks over pink tights for the Chinese Dolls are easiest and help with quick changes. Please bring lots of safety pins, a sewing kit (black, white, red, blue thread & small scissors), small flashlights that can be hung around your neck. Miscellaneous Details – Act I Act I “quick changes” include Clara and Party Children into Mice and Soldiers. We will need at least one “Mom” for each individual quick change. Party Girls changing into Mouse should wear pink tights OVER their black tights for the Mouse costume. There is no time to put on a new set of tights, and barely enough time to peel off the pink ones... This is a very intense quick change. Be prepared. Party Children to Soldiers is a little easier, they have a few more minutes to make the transition and their fellow Soldiers often help them change as well as the assigned Moms. Mice will need assistance to get into position (which happens during the last part of the party scene, during the Grandfather Dance). Sometimes they get a little disoriented in the dark, with their masks on, and not being able to tell who their fellow mice are for reference! Back stage Moms should make sure their face coverings and hair are tucked in. Act II Angels: Act II begins with the entrance of the Angels. We will be putting their wings and halos on during the intermission AFTER Snow. Snow takes about 15 minutes and there is an Intermission afterwards. Please do not put their wings on until Intermission. They are fragile and cannot withstand a lot of bumping into each other. Then we put them into their two lines in preparation to leading them into position for their entrance. Lining up is crucial. Two Moms will lead each group to their appropriate side of the stage. Once they get into position, the children know what to do and just need a little leadership, shushing, guidance with the “candles” and reminders to smile, be on their toes and take small steps. The Angels will then need help carefully taking off their wings and halos and costumes. Many of them will need to hustle into their Chinese Doll or Buffoon costumes.