Category: Auditions

Children’s Ballet of San Antonio Announces Extended Auditions on Saturday

Nutcracker Clara and Nutcracker. Photo: Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, used with permission.

Due to an overwhelming response, The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) will host an additional round of auditions for its fall productions this Saturday, August 24, 2024. As CBSA sets out to celebrate double digits with its 10th Anniversary, talented young performers have a pas de deux or duet of opportunities to shine with two auditions for holiday productions. (Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, 2024)

“After a number of artist inquiries and requests, we are thrilled to extend our auditions to accommodate busy, back to school schedules. Those who missed our open call last weekend, can join us this Saturday to audition for either or both productions. We have so much amazing talent in San Antonio, we can’t wait to share them with our audience through these incredible productions.” – Vanessa Bessler, Founder and Artistic Director of The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio

Get ready for an enchanting adventure as Polar Express: The Musical! makes its world premiere at the iconic Empire Theatre December 6-8, 2024. Young performers can be a part of this heartwarming holiday classic brought to life on stage. CBSA seeks dynamic musical theatre performers ages 8-19 to hop on board the Polar Express: The Musical!

Be a part of The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio’s 10th anniversary production of The Children’s Nutcracker and celebrate a decade of holiday enchantment. The timeless ballet comes to life on the magnificent Lila Cockrell stage, located on the historic Riverwalk December 13-15, 2024. Dancers from multiple disciplines, gymnasts, musicians and actors aged 3 to 19 are invited to audition and be part of this magical milestone production.

Whether you have a preschool prima donna eager to join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince around the Christmas Tree or a talented tween actor hoping his stage debut comes on a train to the North Pole, young performers of all abilities have another opportunity to showcase their unique skills by auditioning for either (or both!).

Cast members will not want to miss the chance to train with the award-winning Children’s Ballet of San Antonio. Since its founding 10 years ago, CBSA performers have studied with acclaimed Master Ballet Teachers and the most talented local choreographers, won numerous international awards, and accepted scholarships to world-renowned ballet institutions like the Royal Ballet School in London, the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia, and the School of American Ballet in New York City, to name a few.

Founder Vanessa Bessler is a nine-time consecutive winner of Youth America Grand Prix’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year, an acknowledgment of her dedication to finding and cultivating young, local talent. CBSA’s associated Dance Center was recently recognized as among the top 2.5 percent of ballet institutions in the nation. Bessler will serve as artistic director for both productions, leading talented teams of award-winning dancers, singers, musicians, actors, and even gymnasts to create professional-caliber productions that embrace the contributions of all performers, including those with special needs.

Polar Express: The Musical!
Auditioning for musical theatre performers ages 8-19.

The Children’s Nutcracker
Auditioning for a wide range of dancers, musicians, actors, and gymnasts ages 3 – 19.

Age 3-7: 12p.m. – 1p.m. Dance Audition
Age 8-11: 1p.m. – 2p.m. Dance & Gymnast Audition
Polar Express OPEN CALL 2p.m. – 3p.m. Age 8+ Musical Theatre performers
Age 12+: 3p.m. – 4p.m. Dance & Gymnast Audition

Dance Center of San Antonio Studios
126 W. Rector, Ste. 120.
San Antonio, Texas 78216

Please Register Prior to Auditions.
Video Auditions are also accepted. Please send video auditions to Children’s Ballet of San Antonio. 

The award-winning Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) is an authentic, professional-level ballet company that produces professionally staged productions showcasing San Antonio’s most talented children. Dancers are selected by invitation or audition. The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio is a nonprofit organization 501(c)3. 

Mission: The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) seeks to inspire the pursuit of excellence and prepare children for productive and creative lives through dance by offering extensive training and performance opportunities for talented children from all backgrounds.

Photo: Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, used with permission.

Children’s Ballet of San Antonio hosts open auditions for The Children’s Nutcracker

Christmas comes early for young performers with The Children’s Nutcracker open auditions. Photo: Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, used with permission.

The award-winning Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) will hold open auditions for The Children’s Nutcracker at the Dance Center of San Antonio on Saturday, August 26, from 10:30a.m. – 6p.m. All performers, ages 3-19 are invited to register online for an audition time. The Children’s Nutcracker is looking for ballet, tap, folklorico, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dancers, along with gymnasts, actors, and vocalists. Performers with special needs are encouraged to attend a more relaxed audition on Friday, August 25, from 5:30p.m. – 6p.m. All performers will be cast in roles that showcase and highlight their individual talents and strengths and allow them to shine brighter than the Christmas star. (Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, 2023)

The Children’s Nutcracker is a classic, beloved holiday tradition that features all the enchantment, joy, and wonder synonymous with this timeless tale. From fighting mice to fairies, soldiers to snow queens, the show takes audiences on an adventure where holiday dreams do come true. Taking place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre on December 8 and 9, this world-class production pulls out all the stops for a holiday extravaganza the whole family will enjoy. From a pre-show holiday market to spectacular digital and physical scenery, captivating special effects, and interactive elements, The Children’s Nutcracker is the perfect way for families to kick off the holidays and capture the magic of the season.

The Children’s Nutcracker 2023 offers young performers the chance to train with the best of the best, from Master Ballet Teachers to internationally acclaimed choreographers. This year, performers will be able to work with Nutcracker experts Aliaksandra Krukava and Nurlan Kinerbayev from the world-renowned Vaganova method of Russian Ballet. This is the same prestigious method that has turned out such household names as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, and Anna Pavlova, to name a few.

The dynamic Russian duo will be on hand this year to help with staging, exposing both the performers and the audience to the most authentic experience. Performers will also have the unique opportunity to work with Vanessa Bessler, former Prima Ballerina and founder of CBSA. Through recognition, awards, and scholarships from the most prestigious ballet competitions and schools in the world for many of its dancers, CBSA has elevated San Antonio to the world stage, making it a strong player in the performing arts world.

Awards and accolades aside, CBSA is the only professional-level dance company in Texas to offer lead roles to dancers as young as eight years old. Designed to bridge the gap between young students and professional dancers, it is a gateway for young artists interested in pursuing a professional dance career, pointing their toes in the right direction.

Dance Center of San Antonio
126 W. Rector, Suite 120
San Antonio, TX 78216

Auditions:
Friday August 25, 5:30p.m. – 6p.m. for special needs performers
Saturday August 26, 10:30a.m. – 6p.m. for general auditions
All students must register to secure audition time.

The award-winning Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) is an authentic, professional-level ballet company that produces professionally staged productions showcasing San Antonio’s most talented children. Dancers are selected by invitation or audition. The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) seeks to inspire the pursuit of excellence and prepare children for productive and creative lives through dance by offering extensive training and performance opportunities for talented children from all backgrounds.