Sun Country Dance Theatre will hold open auditions for its 2026-27 performance season on Sunday, Aug. 16, inviting qualified young dancers to audition for the nonprofit pre-professional performing company’s 19th season.
All auditions and the required pre-audition meeting will be held at Sun Country Sports West, 333 SW 140th Terrace, Jonesville.
A mandatory pre-audition meeting for all prospective dancers and their parents or legal guardians is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. Organizers will review audition requirements, company expectations and membership information.
Online pre-registration is required for all auditioning dancers. Registration materials and required forms will be distributed during the pre-audition meeting. The audition fee is $25 per dancer, and all registration documents and fees must be submitted by Friday, Aug. 14.
Auditions will be conducted by age and experience level:
- Senior/Apprentice Company: 12:15-2:15 p.m. for advanced ballet dancers ages 14 and older who are en pointe.
- Teen/Youth Company: 2:30-4:30 p.m. for dancers ages 12 and older with a minimum of five consecutive years of ballet training. Dancers currently dancing en pointe should bring their pointe shoes.
- Junior/Children’s Division: 4:40-6:10 p.m. for dancers ages 9 and older with at least three consecutive years of ballet training and current placement in Ballet Levels III, IV or V.
Dancers should arrive 20 minutes before their scheduled audition.
Female dancers should wear a black leotard, pink tights and pink ballet slippers, with hair styled in a traditional ballet bun. Those with at least one year of pointe experience should bring pointe shoes. Male dancers should wear appropriate classical ballet attire.
Founded in 2008, Sun Country Dance Theatre is the resident nonprofit, pre-professional performing company of DANCE Sun Country at Sun Country Sports Center. The company provides advanced training and performance opportunities for young dancers while serving the community through outreach programs, charitable performances and educational initiatives.
Throughout the season, company members perform at community events, participate in educational outreach programs for underserved youth and conclude the year with a professionally produced Spring Concert at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts featuring original story ballets and works by resident and guest choreographers.
Membership is open to qualified dancers regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender or national origin. Financial sponsorship assistance is available for eligible participants.
Sun Country Dance Theatre programs receive funding in part from the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, and the Arts Council of Alachua County.
For more information or to determine the appropriate audition level, contact Artistic Director Judy Benton at scdancetheatre08@gmail.com.