Young Dancers Ages 6 to 14 Invited to Open Audition for "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, June 13

Commack based New York Dance Theatre will hold open auditions for their 43rd annual production of “The Nutcracker,” with the first audition held on Saturday, June 13 at 10 am. The holiday classic will be performed in December at Hofstra University, marking the arrival of the holiday season for thousands of Long Island families.

NYDT founder Frank Ohman (1939-2019), a former student and soloist under George Balanchine, set his staging after his mentor’s iconic Lincoln Center version, and the production includes the original Sugarplum Fairy Pas de Deux from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ® by permission of the George Balanchine Trust as well as costumes and props gifted by Mr. Balanchine. In addition, Ohman created original dances and scenes that set his production apart from others on Long Island. The ballet is directed by NYDT executive artistic director and NYDT/Ohman School of Ballet alumna Nicole Loizides Albruzzese.

With the elegant Christmas Party Scene, the drama of the magical growing Christmas Tree, the Battle of the Toy Soldiers and Giant Mice, the live snowstorm, and the brilliant dancing in the Land of the Sweets, “The Nutcracker” appeals to all ages. In all, a cast of 80 children, pre-professional and professional dancers, including guests from New York City Ballet, will bring this classic story ballet to life on the stage of the John Cranford Adams Playhouse.

Auditions for children and pre-professionals will be held at the Ohman School of Ballet in Commack as follows: Saturday, June 13 from 10 am to 1:30 pm for ages 6-14; Saturday, August 15 from 10 am to 1:30 pm for ages 15-18 (including pointe work). For more details, email office@ohmanballet.org or call 631.462.6266. Dancers can register online at Nutcracker Auditions | Ohman School of Ballet. Proper ballet attire required. There is an audition fee of $20 per dancer.

While the auditions are open to all dancers, anyone cast in the show must be registered for classes at the Ohman School of Ballet for the fall semester in which rehearsals and performances take place (September 2026 to January 2027).

About New York Dance Theatre

New York Dance Theatre marked its 50th year in 2024. Founded by New York City Ballet soloist Frank Ohman with the blessing of his mentor, New York City Ballet co-founder George Balanchine, the company is currently under the artistic direction of NYDT alumna and former Momix principal dancer and choreographer Nicole Loizides, whose production work includes the Sochi Olympics. NYDT continues to present studies and performances of works by Balanchine and Antony Tudor with repetiteurs from the Balanchine and Tudor Trusts. The company’s partnerships include organizations focused on at-risk youth opening up scholarships to children in need and offering opportunities to experience live performances.

About the Ohman School of Ballet

The Ohman School of Ballet was founded in 1979 by Frank Ohman (1939-2019), former soloist at New York City Ballet (NYCB) and is currently led by Executive Artistic Director Nicole Loizides, herself an alumna of the school. Located in Commack, in 2024 the school celebrated 45 years serving as a training ground for promising young dancers and offering aspiring students the opportunity to learn classical ballet in the style passed down from George Balanchine to his protégé, Frank Ohman. OSB is a non-competition, non-recital school, focusing on proper classical ballet technique. A division of the New York Dance Theatre, Inc., the Ohman School has become an integral part of the company and is one of the very few not-for-profit ballet schools in the region. It offers three studios with state-of-the art flooring to Balanchine specifications and a highly qualified teaching staff. Artistic advisors for the school include New York City Ballet principal Daniel Ulbricht and retired New York City Ballet principal Ask la Cour, who served as Artistic Director of the school following Frank Ohman’s passing, as well as former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal Da’Von Doane and Toledo Ballet Artistic Director Eric Otto.