Dance Alive National Ballet (DANB) will hold auditions Saturday, Aug. 15, for its 61st anniversary season, seeking dancers for the professional company, its annual production of “The Nutcracker” and its youth performance group, Next Generation.
Auditions will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at Pofahl Studios (1325 NW Second St., Gainesville). The audition fee is $25.
Dance Alive National Ballet Artistic Director Kim Tuttle will cast selected roles for the company’s 2026-27 productions and “The Nutcracker,” while directors of Next Generation will select members for the upcoming youth company. Dancers from throughout North Central Florida, including neighboring counties, dance studios and gymnastics programs, are encouraged to audition.
Participants should arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled audition to complete registration and receive an audition number.
The audition schedule includes:
- 12:30-1:15 p.m. — Ages 7-8
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. — Ages 9-10
- 2:15-3:15 p.m. — Ages 11-13
These auditions are for dancers with ballet experience seeking roles including Soldiers, Party Children, Franz’s Friends, Mice and Next Generation.
Additional auditions include:
- 3:30-4:15 p.m. — Ages 11-13 with at least two years of pointe experience by August 2026, along with jazz dancers of the same age.
- 4:30-5:15 p.m. — Ages 12-17 with at least three years of pointe experience by August 2026, along with jazz dancers of the same age.
These auditions are for roles including Party Children, Franz’s Friends, Clara’s Friends, Young Adults, Mice, Angels, Snowflakes, the Act II corps de ballet, Dance Alive National Ballet and Next Generation. Pointe work will be required for pointe roles.
A final audition from 5:30-6 p.m. is scheduled for tumblers ages 7-18. Participants should be able to perform back handsprings, splits, headstands, front and back walkovers, and aerial tricks.
Female dancers should wear a black leotard, pink tights and appropriate ballet shoes with their hair secured in a bun. Male dancers should wear a white T-shirt, black tights, shorts or bicycle pants and appropriate footwear. Acrobats should wear suitable athletic attire.
Some dancers selected during the auditions will also perform in the company’s touring production of “The Nutcracker,” with performances scheduled in Alachua, Ocala and Gainesville. The production will be presented in partnership with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra in both Gainesville and Ocala.
Founded in 1966, Dance Alive National Ballet is one of Florida’s longest-running professional ballet companies. Based in Gainesville, the company features an international roster of dancers and presents a repertoire ranging from classical productions such as “The Nutcracker” to contemporary works by Artistic Director Kim Tuttle and Choreographer-in-Residence Judy Skinner. Throughout its history, the company has performed in venues ranging from community spaces to international stages, while maintaining its mission of expanding access to dance through performances, education and community outreach.
For more information, contact Dance Alive National Ballet at 352-371-2986 or email Judy@dancealive.org.