Nutcracker Production Information
The 2018 BC  Nutcracker  performances are just around the corner. Please read each part of this email carefully so that you and your dancer are prepared for production week. Below you will find information about drop off and pick up procedures at the studio and the theater, rehearsal information, as well as a list of supplies that each dancer will need for rehearsals and performances.

Please contact the office if you have any questions that we can answer about the production. The dancers have been working hard in rehearsals to get ready, and it's going to be a great show!
Rehearsal Schedule
Dancers should on time for all rehearsals and performance call times. This will ensure that rehearsals can begin and end on time and that all dancers are ready when it is their turn to dance .

Please make sure to check the rehearsal schedule regularly for the most up do date information about rehearsal times. Also take note of the following rehearsals that are different than regular weekly rehearsal times:

Saturday, November 17th:
1:15-2:00pm Soldiers Rehearsal down the hill in Studio C with BC Members)

Tuesday, November 20th:
4:30 – 5:30 Warm up class for dancers in Ballet 3 and up in Studio C (Shana O’Brien)
5:30 - 6:30 Battle Scene (Soldiers, Little Mice, Mice, Nutcracker, Mouse King, Clara, Prince) 
6:30-7:00 Act 2 Opening (BC Members, Angels, Confections, Spanish)
7:00 - 8:00 Party Scene (Elves, Party Children, Maids, Adults, Clara, Fritz) 
8:00 – 8:30 Flowers (BC Members)
8:00-8:30 Mother Ginger (Studio B)
8:30-9:00 Snow Scene (BC Members)

Wednesday, November 21 - Sunday, November 25: DCM Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Monday, November 26 - Friday, November 30th: Regular DCM Classes and Nutcracker Rehearsals

Saturday, December 1st:
9:00 – 11:45 Regularly Scheduled Technique Classes for DCM students
10:14-10:45 NO ELVES REHEARSAL - ELVES SHOULD COME IN THE AFTERNOON AT 2:30PM
12:00-1:00 Battle Scene (Little Mice, Soldiers, Mice, Nutcracker, Mouse King, Clara, Prince)
1:00-1:30 Act 2 Opening (BC Members, Angels, Confections)
1:30-2:00 Flowers/Snow (BC Members)
2:00-2:30 Act 2 Variations (Spanish, Chinese, Marzipan, Arabian, Peppermint) 
2:30-3:30 Party Scene (Dolls, Elves, Party Children, Adults, Maids, Butlers)

Sunday, December 2 - Sunday, December 9: DCM Closed for Nutcracker Production Week
Production Week
Drop-off Procedures and Parking
  • All dancers should wear street clothes over their tights and leotards on their way to and from all rehearsals and performances at the studio or the theater.

  • Rehearsals at the studio are a drop-off only event and parents (or grandparents, babysitters or siblings) must bring cast members to Studio C down the hill and check in with the chaperone coordinators. The lobby up the hill will be open as a waiting area during all studio rehearsals. Although rehearsal may run late, it may also end early and we will call parents/guardians when each group is finished for the day.

  • At the theater, children’s cast dancers should be dropped off at the main doors of Stephen’s hall theater. BC Volunteers will be waiting to check in children and take them to the dressing rooms. The driveway in front of Stephen’s Hall is a loading zone only and you will not be able to park there. If you prefer to come into the building with your child, you must park in the Glenn Parking Garage on the corner of York Rd. and Cross Campus Drive and then walk to the theater.

  • No parents are allowed back stage except for chaperone volunteers on the day that they are chaperoning. This includes Ballet Chesapeake company member parents.

  • Please send only one family member to meet your dancers by the dressing rooms when it is time to leave. This is a small space, so any family or friends should wait upstairs in the lobby to visit with dancers. Please understand that dancers will need time to change out of costume and gather their belongings after the performance.

  • Towson University is still working on construction of a new building next to Stephen’s Hall. All parking for the theater is in the Glenn Parking Garage on the corner of York Rd. and Cross Campus Drive. Please see the attached campus map. Please allow time to walk from the garage to the theater. Ticket holders may be dropped off at the theater entrance before performances, but that is a no parking zone, and cars will be towed if unattended.

  • The BC office will be closed on performance days and during all theater rehearsals. Please contact our chaperone coordinators Carla Paisley and Jennifer Geissler if you need to get in touch with someone about your dancer during production week or at the theater. Carla can be reached at (301) 520-0586 or [email protected]. Jennifer can be reached at (410) 596-9564 or [email protected].
Clothing, Hair, and Makeup
  • Please read the list of costume requirements (above), and make sure that your dancer has everything he/she needs for the performance.

  • Write your dancer’s name on everything that you bring to the studio and the theater. Dancers will be in tight quarters with others who are bringing the same supplies. Help us eliminate mix-ups and make sure that nothing is lost!

  • Please send pants for dancers to wear over tights in order to keep tights clean back stage, and to keep dancers warm. Please also pack an extra pair of tights just in case!

  • All dancers should wear street clothes over their tights and leotards on their way to and from all rehearsals and performances.

  • Dancers should wear a regular class leotard over their nude leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers for all studio rehearsals, warm up classes, and whenever they are not in costume.

  • Underwear should not be worn under tights and leotards for any rehearsals or performances. Dancers will be completely covered while changing if they have on tights and a nude leotard. Dancewear is like swimwear and does not require extra undergarments.

  • All hair and makeup should be done prior to arrival at rehearsal or performances. Please bring extra hair and makeup supplies for touch-ups. (fine tooth brush or comb, hair spray or gel, bobby pins, hair nets, makeup supplies)

  • Hair should be performance ready in a high bun with no part or bangs for all tech week rehearsals.

  • Makeup is needed for all rehearsals and performances when the dancers are in costume. (Monday 12/3 – Sunday 12/9)

  • Dancers may bring warm-up clothing to wear while waiting for their turn in rehearsal, but must remove all warm-ups before it is their turn to dance.

  • Dancers should bring a large shirt with a zipper or button-up closure, which they can wear over their costume to keep it clean until it is time to dance.
Snacks and Entertainment
  • Write your dancer’s name on everything that you bring to the studio and the theater. Dancers will be in tight quarters with others who are bringing the same supplies. Help us eliminate mix-ups and make sure that nothing is lost!

  • Dancers should bring a quiet activity to tech week rehearsals and performances to entertain themselves until it is time to practice or perform. Please do not bring anything messy that could dirty costumes or the rehearsal space, or with small parts such as beads or glitter that can spill.

  • Dancers should bring a snack to rehearsal. Please do not bring anything containing peanuts or peanut butter to protect students with allergies. All drinks should be clear liquid – no fruit punch, cola, or dark juice. Please pack snacks that will limit the amount of spills and crumbs in the rehearsal and performance facilities.

  • Dancers in the children’s cast may want to bring a blanket or something to sit on while waiting to rehearse and perform. There is limited seating in both the rehearsal and performance spaces.

  • It is each dancer’s responsibility to clean up his or her own space after each rehearsal and performance. Please keep this in mind when packing snacks and activities. Dancers will not be released from rehearsal until their space is clean.