The Nutcracker
Thanks to our affiliation with Les Grands Ballets, students at the École supérieure de ballet du Québec benefit from a unique opportunity to take part in the famous show The Nutcracker. This is an exceptional opportunity for them to gain enriching and formative experience in a professional environment.
Auditions for the children's roles are held every year in September at the École supérieure.
The children and teenagers selected then have the opportunity to take part in this enchanting show, presented every year in December, at Place des Arts in Montreal. Some of the roles are also performed at the Grand Théâtre de Québec.
AUDITIONS
September 5 and 6, 2025
At l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec
Auditions are open to students in the École supérieure's professional and recreational programs.
Please note that certain roles are reserved for the professional program.
Roles available
For students in the Professional program only (Junior, Inter, Advanced): Black Sheep; Coffee; Matryoshkas; White Sheep.
For students in the Professional (Junior, Inter) and Recreational programs: Party Kids; Mice; Rats; Angels; Reindeer.
Taking part in The Nutcracker is an exciting and formative experience. The children and teenagers selected will have the chance to :
● Perform on stage from December 12 to 30, 2025 at Place des Arts de Montréal and, for certain roles, from December 4 to 7, 2025 at the Grand Théâtre de Québec.
● Company the professional artists of Les Grands Ballets.
● Live a unique experience in a prestigious setting and in front of thousands of spectators.
Commitment required : Participation in this project implies total commitment to the performances, as well as to the rehearsals, which take place outside class hours and our building.
● Organization by level : audition schedules are set according to the levels/cycles of Upper School students; most levels will audition for several roles.
● Roles assigned by size and level : since costume size is fixed, roles will be assigned with this criterion in mind. A height check will be carried out on site.
● Final decision : Roles will be assigned by the Grands Ballets team, who will then communicate the results directly to those selected. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified.
By attending the auditions, candidates agree to play the role assigned to them, whatever their initial preference.
As auditions are reserved for students of the École supérieure, any young dancer selected to take part in the show undertakes to continue her or his courses at the ESBQ at the same time.
Consult the detailed audition schedules for each level in the document below.
See schedules
Rehearsal attendance
Anyone selected to audition will be expected to attend rehearsals regularly, from September 15 to performances in December (rehearsal schedule to follow).
How to register ?
To participate, complete the registration form before midnight September 2.
Note for the Superior cycle : the Grands Ballets team will observe the Superior cycle class on Friday, September 5, from 1 pm to 2:45 pm to assign the corps de ballet roles.
No registration is required for these students.
Good to know: It's still possible to sign up for the recreational program for a chance to audition for The Nutcracker (subject to eligibility criteria). Spread the word!
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Read our FAQ
For questions about auditions, registration forms and our recreational programs :
[email protected] | 514 849-4929, ext. 250
Detailed information on rehearsals and performances will be communicated by the Les Grands Ballets team at a later date.