nutcracker 2026 dancer info
***Tickets will go on sale Monday, November 2nd through Eventbrite.com
For Cast Member Complimentary ticket info - how to access your complimentary tickets will be sent via email before November 2nd.
If your dancer is in SODC Present’s: The Nutcracker December 12, 2026 Benefiting Taking Shape!
This page has all of the helpful info for the Rehearsals and Weekend/Event. We are looking forward to a great show!
Additional Dress Rehearsal and Show Information
All dancers will need a parent or responsible guardian present during the dress rehearsal and show.
Please see the itinerary under “Nutcracker Weekend Timeline” button above for dancer check-in/checkout information. Dancers will sit with their parents/family in the act they are not performing in, and will remain backstage with an SODC staff member or SODC volunteer in the act they are performing in.
Please come dressed and ready in costume. We will have dressing rooms for those that have costume changes, but if your dancer does not require a costume change please help save time not using the dressing room for changing unless necessary. Dancers of car seat age are preferred to change once arriving at Northwood in order to not crunch the tutu dress. ;)
Please make sure dancers do not eat while in costume. Dancers should either change out of their costume or wear something over their costume if they are eating in between performances (if they are in more than one cast).
While Northwood allows food and drink, please understand your responsibility in representing SODC and help ensure your seat area is left cleaned up upon your departure. Any drinks should be sealed when entering the auditorium.
We also kindly ask that you are quiet when sitting in the audience and open wrappers before the show begins.
There is no alcohol permitted on the Northwood Church property.
Please make sure you are only entering and exiting in between dances should you have to get up prior to the intermission or end-of -show. If you must exit, please go out the main ticket entrances and do not pass in front of the stage otherwise you will be seen on film.
Please take fussy children to the lobby.
Nutcracker is a show and we kindly ask you stay until the end of the show before leaving, especially dancers who performed in an earlier act.
Photography and Videotaping During the Performance
-Flash Photography during The Nutcracker is prohibited. Flash photography in a dark auditorium can be dangerous to the performers.
-The performances will be videoed and mastered by our professional videographer, MCH Video. The Nutcracker Video links may be purchased at the Front Table at Nutcracker for $35 per link - cash or check only. Or you can order the video link through our pre-sale form when measuring for your Nutcracker costume to be EFT’d for the $35 on December 15th.
Parents thank you so much for allowing your child to dance at SODC. It is our goal to have a very fun and enjoyable Nutcracker. We are so proud of the hard work of our students and we cannot wait to share this very special day with you! We also appreciate your support in our giveback efforts to Taking Shape during this holiday season.
Nutcracker Rehearsals at sodc
Dancers will begin learning the Nutcracker choreography for their age group in their ballet classes beginning in September. We will practice with the cast in each part on 3 Saturdays leading up to the show. Information for these rehearsals are below:
Rehearsal Dates:
Saturdays November 7th, November 14th, and December 5th
***Saturday, December 5th all parents will come into your dancer’s rehearsal the last 15 mins for a Cast Informational Mtg***
Rehearsal Times:
1:30-2:30PM - 5-8 YR Sea Life Variation (Dancers in 5-8 Kids Dance 1/2 & 5-8 Kids Dance 2/3)
2:30-3:30PM - 3-5 YR Cherubs (Baby Angels) (Dancers in 3-4 yr. Thursday 5:30PM w/Miss Cody, 3-4 y.r Mondays 4:00PM w/Miss Kari, 3-5 yr. Saturdays 9:00AM w/Miss Cody, and 3-5 yr. Tuesdays 4:30PM w/Miss Adelyn)
3:30-4:30PM - 3-5 YR Spanish (Dancers in 4-5 yr. Mondays 6:00PM w/Miss Halle, 4-5 yr. Wednesdays 4:15PM w/Miss Tori, 3-5 yr. Saturdays 10:00AM w/Miss Lauren, 3-5 yr. Mondays 4:30PM w/Miss Laynie, 3-5 yr. Saturdays 10:45AM w/Miss Cody, and 3-5 yr. Mondays 10:00AM w/Miss Kari)
4:30-5:30PM - 7-9 & 9&Up YR Snowflake Variation (Dancers in 7-9 Ballet, 9&Up Ballet Level 1/2, and 9&Up Ballet Level 3/4)
***Parents please follow the below instructions for drop off and pickup for Nutcracker Cast Rehearsals at SODC:
When brining your dancer to rehearsal and dropping them off - parents, please wait with your child inside our Front Lobby of SODC until the teacher is ready for your dancer and lines them up to go back to rehearsal.
When picking up your dancer at the end of rehearsal - parents, please wait outside our Front Doors of SODC and their teacher will send out the students a few at a time to ensure all dancers go to their parent in an organized fashion.
***Our lobby and waiting areas will remain closed during Nutcracker rehearsals at SODC***
Nutcracker Pictures at sodc
Nutcracker Photo Date & Times:
Saturday, November 14th - Nutcracker 2026 Photo Day
***Please make sure your dancer is fully dressed and ready for pictures when you arrive. Please do not drop off early as we have lots of moving parts on this day with regular classes, pictures, and rehearsals. Dancer’s safety is our utmost priority. Photos are here at Studio One Dance Center***
12:30-1:30PM - 5-8 yr. Sea Life Variation Photos - Drop off at the FRONT DOOR fully dressed and ready at 12:25PM w/Miss Carlie & Miss Cody
1:30-2:30PM - 3-5 yr. Angels Photos - Drop off at the FRONT DOOR fully dressed and ready at 1:25PM w/Miss Carlie & Miss Cody
2:30-3:30PM - 3-5 yr. Spanish Photos - Drop off at the FRONT DOOR fully dressed and ready at 2:25PM w/Miss Carlie & Miss Cody
3:30-4:30PM - 7+ yr. Snowflake Variation Photos - Drop off at the FRONT DOOR fully dressed and ready at 3:25PM w/Miss Carlie & Miss Cody
****Little One’s Preschool Snow Flurrie Photos will be Friday, November 13th 5:00-6:00PM for those that would like their Nutcracker photos taken with our photographer. Please drop off your dancer at the FRONT DOOR at 5:00PM and plan to stay around as the photos will be quick - we will release dancers as they are finished taking photos****
Helpful Information for Nutcracker Photos:
1) Our Nutcracker picture day is on our third Nutcracker rehearsal day. We are inviting all dancers to come 1 hour prior to their scheduled rehearsal to take their Nutcracker photo in costume. We will also use this as a time to practice in costume so dancers will keep their costumes on for rehearsal that day.
2) Be sure to arrive on time. All dancers will need to be dropped off with an SODC Staff Member at the FRONT DOOR 5 mins prior to their photo time beginning. Parents will pickup their dancer at the completion of their dancer’s rehearsal at the studio door they rehearse in.
3) Hair should be in a slicked-back ballet bun (no part) at the crown of the head and no bangs. This is not a low bun (base of the neck) or a high bun (top of the head) the crown of the head would be in the middle of a low bun and high bun. Please see the hair tutorial on this webpage for the show that is helpful for photo day as well. The goal is to look like they would in character on stage for their dance photo.
4) You can apply as much or as little makeup as you want for Nutcracker picture day since these are your pictures. Our best advice would be makeup really does help to enhance the pictures.
5) Be sure your dancer is dressed and ready for their photo in the performance tights, costume, and costume accessories when they are dropped off.
6) We will not have time for sibling/friend/group pictures. Nutcracker photos will be individual only.
7) Costumes have been ordered and will arrive for pickup through the office in the next few weeks. We will email you once available for pickup.
8) If your dancer is not taking Nutcracker photos, please go ahead and have them wear their costume to rehearsal on November 15th anyway. We use this day as a pre-dress rehearsal to address any pinning/alterations/how to adhere the hairpiece/etc. if needed.
9) We want to be very honest with everyone going into Nutcracker photos that we want everyone's expectations to be properly managed when taking dance pictures at SODC. In the day and age of social media and so many amazing marketing photos, it is easy to have a certain expectation of what you want your dancer's pictures to look like. We do not charge a retainer fee, rental fee, or deposit to take dance pictures as we love to provide the opportunity for all dancers to take dance photos and you are not obligated to take photos or purchase the photos if you do not wish to. These photos are shot in a short amount of time and are more along the lines of school photos. Please keep in mind that having a 1 hour photo session with a boutique styled shoot costs anywhere from $450-$800 or more depending on where you shoot, the photographer you hire, and rental time. The packages that are offered from our photo sessions are set by the photography company based on cost of time and production of the photos and what they are able to offer. We had some awesome photos taken last year at both Nutcracker and end of year, but definitely want to ensure everyone has the right expectations set for the experience. :)