Pictured is the Act 1 Party Scene from “The Nutcracker.” The scene provides an opportunity for dancers of all experience levels to participate, including adults who are needed as party moms and dads. Rob Sigler Photography

The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will hold auditions for its annual production of The Nutcracker on Sunday, Aug. 18, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet studio, 21 E. Third St., Jamestown.

The tale of The Nutcracker is presented annually at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts and has become a holiday season tradition throughout the region. Auditions for the 2019 production are open to dancers of all ages according to the following schedule:

¯ 1 p.m. — youth ages 6 to 8;

¯ 1:45 p.m. — youth between the ages of 8 and 12;

¯ 2:30 p.m. — youth between the ages of 11 and 14 with dance training;

¯ 3:30 p.m. — advanced dancers only, girls must be proficient on pointe;

¯ 4:30 p.m. — adults interested in non- or minimal-dancing roles such as party parents or maids.

No dance training is required for boys between the ages of 6 and 11, with dance training required for boys ages 11 and older. At least a year of dance or gymnastics training is required for girls between the ages of 6 and 8; at least two years of dance or gymnastics training is necessary for girls between the ages of 8 and 10; at least three years of dance training is needed for girls between the ages of 10 and 14.

The Audition fee for non-Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet students is $10. All students should bring a photo for casting purposes only, though it does not need to be a professional photo. Girls auditioning for roles should wear a leotard, pink tights and ballet slippers and have their hair in a bun. There is a girls’ changing area. Boys should be dressed in dark tights, sweatpants or shorts, and t-shirt and black or white ballet slippers. There is a boys’ changing area. Those auditioning should arrive 15 minutes ahead of their time to fill out an audition form. Expect possible waiting time depending on the length of audition segments.

Performance dates for The Nutcracker are Friday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. In addition there will be a school performance in the morning on Dec. 12.

For more information, contact the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet at 664-9766 or visit www.cryb.net. The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet is a not-for-profit organization that provides classical ballet instruction to youth from Chautauqua County and the surrounding region. Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet produces two annual productions — a community performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker each December and a Spring Gala performance.