nutcracker policy

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 We are pleased to continue the annual tradition of presenting the holiday favorite. The Nutcracker Ballet, to Lancaster County. We invite regional dancers between the ages of five and 18 to audition for a role in this professional performance. As a participant in this Nutcracker performance, you are agreeing to the terms of this policy. 

Dancers can select to audition for the Nutcracker during selected dates in May or August. Those who wish to be considered for a role in the Snow Scene, Waltz of the Flowers, Woodland Fairies, and/or Marzipan MUST attend the May audition. Those considered for those parts are required to attend the August Nutcracker Camp to be cast in those roles and will be invited shortly following the May audition. Invited dancers must attend the camp to be cast in those parts. Those who are not able to attend the camp or who are auditioning in August will still be considered for age appropriate parts, just not those rehearsed in the August Nutcracker Camp. Casting day is the same day as our August auditions. Roles will be cast by the director and are not negotiable. Please respect the decision of the director with the casting of the dancers. 

Your dance student has been cast in the Nutcracker Ballet, to be performed with professional ballet dancers. It is required that your dance student be enrolled in at least one ballet class per week during the Nutcracker season. Dancers who are cast as Big Snowflakes need to take at least two ballet classes per week. This ensures the Nutcracker participants are in good physical shape to avoid injuries and continue to develop their dance skills.

We appreciate having dancers from many area studios participate in our annual Nutcracker performances. Please allow us to include your studio's name in our program listing of area dance schools. Participants are required to bring proof of dance classes to their Nutcracker rehearsal no later than September 9th. 

Rehearsal schedules will change every few weeks. You will receive the new schedule by email and as a hard copy at the studio. 

Rehearsals are designed for dancers to come prepared, focused and committed to listening to Viktor and the adult volunteers. Dancers are expected to be kind to the other dancers, avoid unnecessary drama, stay off of cell phones unless in an emergency and to do the best job they can do in their specific roles. Dancers who have difficulty abiding by these guidelines will meet with Viktor to come up with a plan to improve their rehearsal etiquette. 

During rehearsal, no child or parent should share or give medication to another dancer, including Tylenol, Advil or any over the counter or prescription medication. 

Rehearsal attendance is mandatory. Dancers are not permitted to be in any other production during Nutcracker season (August 17 - December 8th). Three absences are allowed with Viktor's permission or by notifying the office staff at least 3 weeks in advance, or in a timely manner if due to an illness.

There is a parking lot at the studio, and the spaces Viktor has will all be used for teachers/staff. Spaces in the lots around the studio are RENTAL/LEASED SPACES (marked clearly) and the tow truck visits often.

Grant Street can get very congested - so it would be best to enter Grant Street from PRINCE or WATER Street - drop off, then turn right at the first alley to go onto Orange Street. 

If you need to park, please see the available locations:

• Free parking: Orange Street and Mulberry Street
• Metered parking: Water Street and King Street
• Parking Garages and Lots: Prince and Orange Streets, Prince Street (across from the Fulton Theater), King Street

Costumes are property of VYIBA and will be fitted to dancers during the rehearsal sessions.

For conformity on stage, all dancers need to order at least 1 pair of tights but may order more. The brand and color will be determined by VYIBA and orders will be placed through the studio for delivery before the show.

Many dancers share a large dressing during the performances. For modesty and easy of costume changes, all dancers are required to wear a NUDE LEOTARD during the shows. You may purchase your own or order through the studio during the tight order.

Curls are needed for the following parts: Clara, Angel, Party Girl, Big Doll, and Little Doll. Curls can be purchased at the studio if you do not have them or need new ones. Please see someone in the office to have your child's hair color matched. If you plan to possibly use curls from a previous year, please bring the curls to the studio so someone can make sure they are "stage appropriate". Many dancers are able to reuse curls from the year before and it will save you some money.

Any dancer who damages any costumes during dress rehearsal or the performances will be charged $100 to cover the cost of repairs. This includes tearing the costume, getting food or makeup on a costume, or any other intentional damages.

The Nutcracker performance is sponsored by Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy. It is a fun and exciting time for all of us. We greatly appreciate all the time, effort and kindness that go into our endeavor to celebrate the holiday season. In all the years of The Nutcracker performance, there has been a strong precedent of volunteers coming together in the spirit of helping our dancers to create a beautiful performance, with the expressed understanding that all aspects of the performance are the sole possession of VYIBA. There are so many volunteers, parents and community members that come together to make our performance a success. In this spirit, it is understood that any and all materials related to The Nutcracker Performance, belong exclusively to Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy.

Any and all materials including but not limited to, choreography, costuming, music, t-shirts, advertising; via print or email; to the public, dancers or parents, belong to VYIBA. DVDs and gifts, flowers, tickets, or food sales are the sole property of VYIBA along with any and all unforeseen properties related to the Nutcracker Performance. I understand that at all times, my volunteer design of formatting of all tickets, forms, programs, texts, or emails produced as a volunteer of The Nutcracker performance belongs expressly to VYIBA. 

You will only need to obtain Background Clearances, also called Certificates, if you are going to be volunteering backstage or at the studio with the dancers or helping at dress rehearsal. If you already have your Clearances (within the last 60 months) you do not need to obtain new ones.

Please make copies of your forms and turn in no later than November 18, 2024. We will need both Clearances this year. Most of you probably already have copies of them from helping at church, school, Scouts, etc. They are quite simple to get. 

• PA State Police Request for Criminal Record Check (Form SP 4-164A)            Online: https://epatch.state.pa.us
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification                                                     Online: www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis

Under "Purpose of Certification" on the 1st page, please check the box that states "Volunteer having contact with children" and also "Other". Fill in the line with "Children's Ballet". Both of these forms will have no charge to submit them because you are using them for VOLUNTEER positions.

The PA State Plice Clearance results should come back to you almost immediately when you submit your online form. If you choose to send it through the mail, you may want to allow for at least 3 weeks. The PA Child Abuse Clearance results can take up to 4 weeks to receive results, if you mail them. It should be less than 2 weeks online. You may also receive them immediately if you are willing to drive to the office in Harrisburg: 5 Magnolia Drive (Hillcrest Building #53) Harrisburg, PA 17110 Hours: M-F, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Nutcracker Fee is non-refundable. Included in this fee are 4 tickets for main floor seating and the costume fee. Siblings receive a partial discount: First dancer must pay the full Nutcracker fee and must sell the 8 tickets as discussed above and the second dancer pays the costume fee only and will need to sell just 5 tickets. All checks should be made payable to "Viktor Yeliohin IBA" or Venmo: @Viktor-Yeliohin

By participating in the Nutcracker, each dancer is making the commitment to sell 8 tickets (5 for a sibling) in any combination for an any performance. The 4 tickets included in the Nutcracker fee are not included in this number.

If 8 tickets (5 for second dancer) are not sold, the remaining tickets are to be paid for by the dancer. (Example: If a dancer sells 6 tickets, they are responsible to purchase the remaining 2 tickets).

The 3 dancers who sell the most tickets will receive a prize from Viktor. Start advertising early! Social media outlets, work, church, school, friends and family are great places to begin selling your tickets.

Nutcracker T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other apparel are designed by the studio. The names of the cast will be included on the back of the t-shirt. Parents/guardians have the opportunity to edit their dancers name before it goes to print. If you do not make changes before the due date, the t-shirt will be printed as is and is considered approved and cannot be adjusted.