AUDITIONS
OPEN COMMUNITY AUDITIONS FOR
"A WINTER'S EVE"
Hope Garden Children's Ballet Theatre (HGCBT) is proud to partner with Essence Studios, Dance & Performing Arts, and Riverworks Arts Center to present our 2026 Holiday production of "A Winter's Eve." We are excited to extend the invitation to regional community members ages 12 to 18 (must be 12 by December 5) to audition for a chance to perform in the show! No dance experience is required and HGCBT happily welcomes dancers from all ethnicities, cultural backgrounds and gender identifications. There will be two performances at the Kreeger Theater, Bender JCC in Rockville, MD on Saturday, December 5th at 1pm and 6pm!
Please read about our Fantastic guest choreographers at the bottom of this page!
We will be auditioning for dancers for four cultural dances, each celebrating a different holiday of the season:
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Traditional Indian dance, celebrating Diwali;
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Bolivian dance, celebrating Dia de Reyes;
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West African dance, celebrating Kwanzaa, and
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Traditional Jewish dance, celebrating Hanukkah.
Auditions for dancers will take place at Essence Studios, located in Poolesville, Maryland, at the following dates and times. PLEASE BE ON TIME!
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Wednesday, May 13th at 6:30pm: Diwali, Traditional Indian
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Saturday, May 16th at 12 noon: Dia de Reyes, Traditional Bolivian
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Saturday, May 16th at 2pm: Kwanzaa, Traditional West African
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Wednesday, May 20thy at 6:30pm: Hanukkah, Traditional Jewish
WHAT TO WEAR: Please wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement. The torso must be fully covered. Dance shoes if applicable, socks or bare feet. Hair must be pulled back and off the face.
Below you will find details regarding auditions, rehearsals and the performances.
Those who audition will be notified by email within a few days if they have been cast in the show.
We hope to see you at the auditions!
ABOUT REHEARSALS AND THE PERFORMANCES
REHEARSALS:
General rehearsals will take place in Poolesville at Essence Studios on either Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 or on Saturday afternoons starting in September. Exact times have yet to be determined.
Dancers are allowed two (2) absences, excluding the mandatory rehearsals listed below. If an actor misses a third rehearsal or the mandatory dress-rehearsal, they will be withdrawn from the show. There will be no refund of the performance fee, as costumes and show shirts will have already been ordered.
Mandatory Dress rehearsals:
• Essence Studios: Saturday, Nov 28th
• JCC Bender, Rockville: Thursday, Dec 3rd at 5:00pm
PERFORMANCES:
There will be two performances of the production on Saturday, December 5th at 1pm and 6pm, at the Kreeger Theater at the Bender JCC, 6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852.
PERFORMANCE CONTRACT:
Each dancer and parent/guardian will be required to read and sign a performance contract. The contract will be provided to the dancers upon auditioning. The contract will provide more details on rehearsal and performance requirements. The contract must be signed and returned by the first rehearsal in September.
PERFORMANCE FEE:
There is a performance fee of approximately $200 per dancer. The performance fee is due at the first rehearsal. Instructions will be provided for payment. The fee funds costumes, rehearsal space, and theater rental. All participants receive a show t-shirt.
SSL HOURS:
Performers & volunteers can receive SSL hours for rehearsal time and performances. Participants can expect 20-30 SSL hours. Dancers must request these hours before the performance. A signed form listing the hours will be provided.
HGCBT is a Montgomery County based 501(c)(3) promoting the performing arts, and is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County. Please see a current list of HGCBT's supporters.
QUESTIONS?
Please email Claire Jones, the Artistic Director, at EssenceStudios29@gmail.com
MEET OUR GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS
Hope Garden Children's Ballet Theatre
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