SDA's LOVELY Nutcracker 2025 Silver Level Snow Queens!
SDA’S 25th SILVER JUBILEE NUTCRACKER Parent/Dancer Info, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
4 Performances at Lakota EAST High School Auditorium Sat, Dec 19!
ICICLE DANCERS: Twinkle Cast-11:15 am and Glitter Cast- 1:30 pm
TINSEL DANCERS: Sparkle Cast-4 pm and Shimmer Cast- 6:15 pm
Mandatory Practice: Fri Dec 18, ON-STAGE THEATER practice; exact times TBA, Lakota EAST HS.
Who can be in the Nutcracker? Any SDA dancer!
What happens at FIRST PRACTICE? Parent mtg, height line-ups, costume handouts.
When will practices be? For Rose/Violet, during regular class time plus one other evening in Dec; for Aqua dancers, 2-3 nights per week in Dec plus Fridays in Nov; Sage/Silver TBA.
What happens if I miss a practice? DON’T STRESS! Dancers will be able to catch up the next practice or watch the class Vimeo recording at home.
Will I be kicked out of the show if I miss practice? Not if you miss one or two. Missing 3 or more may mean you won’t know your part well enough to perform with a confident smile! We don’t schedule excessive practices, so save absence for illness or very important family obligations that can’t be changed/missed.
What happens if I miss a ‘MANDATORY’ date? This will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the director. Mandatory practice dates are EXTREMELY important and are usually only missed for last minute extreme illness. You must be in town and available on our ONLY mandatory date- the evening before the performance!.
What happens if I am sick for the dress rehearsal or performance? Your opposite cast dancer may fill in (if you have one), this will be decided individually.
Do I need special shoes or dancewear for the performances? All dancers will provide their own ballet shoes and undergarments. One pair of performance tights is included with costume fees.
What about special hair or makeup? Rose and Violet hair is parent/dancer choice as long as it’s out of their face. Make-up isn’t mandatory for Rose/Violet but preferred to enhance features onstage under bright stage lighting. Aqua-Sage-Silver dancers must wear makeup. Aqua dancers wear a curly hairpiece over or around their buns, Sage and Silver are assigned specific hairstyles for their parts.
Do we get to keep the costumes? Rose, Violet and Aqua dancers keep their costumes, Sage and Silver may end up keeping a costume, TBD. Most are borrowed and owned by SDA.
What if I miss a scheduled costume fitting? A costume will be assigned to you based on size and height. We will make sure the costume looks good and won’t fall off on stage! Any alterations are done by SDA staff.
What do the Nutcracker fee and ticket sales cover? Production costs include costume purchase, organization, storage, fitting, alterations and cleaning, tights, DVD’s/USB performance sticks, stage sets-storage and maintenance, music software & editing, royalties, video cameras, livestream costs, backdrop rental, dancer props, all practice time (4-8 weeks), theater rental and staff for all practices and performances, program design, website maintenance, administrative help and other costs associated with our beautiful AMAZING Nutcracker.
Sage/Silver Dancer Nutcracker Fee includes- owned and/or borrowed costumes and headpieces; all scheduled in-studio/stage practice class tuition in Nov and Dec and one performance USB.
Rose/Violet/Aqua Dancer Nutcracker Fee includes- dancer owned costume, performance tights and headpiece, tuition for all scheduled in-studio class/practice tuition for Nov and Dec and one performance USB per family. Additional USB’s may be requested.
How much are the tickets and when can I buy them? Tickets will be on sale Sat, Nov 14 online only. All seats reserve with tiered pricing between $16-$26 per ticket. NO SDA PRICE INCREASE! DRT may raise fees.
How will we stay informed about the production? All communication will be via EMAIL/GROUPME chat. The regular practice schedule will be on this page in early Nov.
When will we know what cast we are in/when we will be performing? A final cast list will be posted showing what ROLE you are dancing and specific performance groups on Mon Oct 12 (or before). NO SPECIAL REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED after this date.
Can we request a specific cast to be in? You may request a specific cast and we usually honor every request-but please be flexible if you can. Casting is arranged by total # of dancers participating in each level, siblings/families in same cast, previous parts danced, age/ability/height, costume sizing/availability, Nutcracker performing experience, technical and memorization strength. All dancers are cast if participation deposit is received!
What if we go on vacation over Thanksgiving? AQUA-SAGE-SILVER: missing both the weekend before and the weekend after is discouraged. Please try to be in town for either the weekend before or after (preferably BOTH!) Thanksgiving to be in the production.
If we drop out of the show, will the Nut fee be refunded? ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS FOR DECIDING TO QUIT THE SHOW. For dancer injuries, any credit is decided by the director. Missing too many practice’s/unable to perform: no refunds.
Where are the rehearsals and the performances? All practices are at SDA Studios. The only time we’re at LAKOTA EAST HS onstage is Performance Weekend, Dec 18 and 19.
ROSE/VIOLET dancers attend practice on their current regularly scheduled weekly class day/time, plus ONE other class per week-2 practices per week for 3 weeks. 45 min class/practice time: 5:45-6:30 pm Mon-Fri.
AQUA beginning Nov, dancers will attend Friday Nov 6, 13 and 20. Starting Nov 30, dancers will attend practice 3 times a week as scheduled for their cast part, which include FRI whole cast practices 7-9 pm. Nov Noelle extra early practice will be scheduled.
SAGE/SILVER attend as scheduled by cast part beginning Nov 1 and Saturdays Nov 8, 15 and 22. Also- ALL SAGE practice on Wed and Sat in Dec; ALL SILVER on Tues and Sat in Dec. Practices scheduled usually during current weekly class time.
DANCER FEE’S- participation casting/deposit: $50 per dancer Rose/Violet, $75 Aqua, $85 Sage, $105 Silver (non-refundable) will be invoiced Oct 5, due Oct 11, 9 pm. To be cast, participation deposit must be received by Sun Oct 11, 9 pm or dancer will NOT be included in casting. FINAL casting set: Mon Oct 12.
Remainder Tuition/Costume Fees due: Nov 28, invoices sent Nov 23.
Rose/Violet Dancer Fee- $200 (1 role/costume, 2 weekly Dec practices, 2 shows) $50 deposit-$150 due
Aqua Dancer Fee- $300 (1 role/costume, 3 weekly Dec practices, 2-4 shows) $75 deposit-$225 due
Sage Dancer Fee- $360 (2-3 roles/costumes, early Nov and 3 weekly Dec practices, 2-4 shows) $85 deposit-$275 due
Silver Dancer Fee- $460 (2-3 roles/costumes, early Nov and 3-4 weekly Dec practices, 2-4 shows) $105 deposit-$355 due
NUTCRACKER 2026 is coming to SDA and Lakota EAST HS (LEHS), 4 performances Dec 19!
Join us for SDA's 25th SILVER JUBILEE of our timeless and magical holiday ballet performed continuously since 2002!
Production Changes- some parts and MANY costumes have been re-arranged/added to fit our newest Nutty, where we include EVERY dancer wanting to participate, remaining the longest running annual Nutcracker with ONLY STUDENTS performing in the entire area! Showtime: 1 hour-10 minutes, no intermissions.
CASTS: ICICLE- Twinkle 11:15am and Glitter 1:30pm; TINSEL- Sparkle 4pm and Shimmer 6:15pm
Nutty T-Shirts/Sweatshirts; order online in mid-late Oct, CASH only payments to SDA front desk, email specifics coming separately.
ALL OF THIS is part of SDA's beloved Nutcracker. It’s fun to create, imagining so many beautiful dancers onstage and how that will look with the new backdrop and new costumes! WE LOVE NUTTY! Join us for a very magical season, filled with beautiful dancing and incredible memories!
ROSE-VIOLET Parts: ROSE dancers-POP ROCKS! VIOLET dancers-MINTY SWRILS!
AQUA-SAGE Parts: AQUA dancers-Party Friends, Mouse Queens, Cadettes, Cheerleaders, Fritz, Nutcracker Prince and Noelle! SAGE dancers-Snowdrops, Party Dolls and Flowers!
SILVER PARTS; Adult Party peeps, Snowflakes, Snowdrop Fairie, Snow Queen, Licorice, Turkish Delight, Marzipan, the Rose and the Sugar Plum Fairy!
FINALE-ALL DANCERS!
4 Performances at Lakota EAST High School Auditorium Sat, Dec 19!
ICICLE DANCERS: Twinkle Cast-11:15 am and Glitter Cast- 1:30 pm
TINSEL DANCERS: Sparkle Cast-4 pm and Shimmer Cast- 6:15 pm
Mandatory Practice: Fri Dec 18, ON-STAGE THEATER practice; exact times TBA, Lakota EAST HS.
Who can be in the Nutcracker? Any SDA dancer!
What happens at FIRST PRACTICE? Parent mtg, height line-ups, costume handouts.
When will practices be? For Rose/Violet, during regular class time plus one other evening in Dec; for Aqua dancers, 2-3 nights per week in Dec plus Fridays in Nov; Sage/Silver TBA.
What happens if I miss a practice? DON’T STRESS! Dancers will be able to catch up the next practice or watch the class Vimeo recording at home.
Will I be kicked out of the show if I miss practice? Not if you miss one or two. Missing 3 or more may mean you won’t know your part well enough to perform with a confident smile! We don’t schedule excessive practices, so save absence for illness or very important family obligations that can’t be changed/missed.
What happens if I miss a ‘MANDATORY’ date? This will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the director. Mandatory practice dates are EXTREMELY important and are usually only missed for last minute extreme illness. You must be in town and available on our ONLY mandatory date- the evening before the performance!.
What happens if I am sick for the dress rehearsal or performance? Your opposite cast dancer may fill in (if you have one), this will be decided individually.
Do I need special shoes or dancewear for the performances? All dancers will provide their own ballet shoes and undergarments. One pair of performance tights is included with costume fees.
What about special hair or makeup? Rose and Violet hair is parent/dancer choice as long as it’s out of their face. Make-up isn’t mandatory for Rose/Violet but preferred to enhance features onstage under bright stage lighting. Aqua-Sage-Silver dancers must wear makeup. Aqua dancers wear a curly hairpiece over or around their buns, Sage and Silver are assigned specific hairstyles for their parts.
Do we get to keep the costumes? Rose, Violet and Aqua dancers keep their costumes, Sage and Silver may end up keeping a costume, TBD. Most are borrowed and owned by SDA.
What if I miss a scheduled costume fitting? A costume will be assigned to you based on size and height. We will make sure the costume looks good and won’t fall off on stage! Any alterations are done by SDA staff.
What do the Nutcracker fee and ticket sales cover? Production costs include costume purchase, organization, storage, fitting, alterations and cleaning, tights, DVD’s/USB performance sticks, stage sets-storage and maintenance, music software & editing, royalties, video cameras, livestream costs, backdrop rental, dancer props, all practice time (4-8 weeks), theater rental and staff for all practices and performances, program design, website maintenance, administrative help and other costs associated with our beautiful AMAZING Nutcracker.
Sage/Silver Dancer Nutcracker Fee includes- owned and/or borrowed costumes and headpieces; all scheduled in-studio/stage practice class tuition in Nov and Dec and one performance USB.
Rose/Violet/Aqua Dancer Nutcracker Fee includes- dancer owned costume, performance tights and headpiece, tuition for all scheduled in-studio class/practice tuition for Nov and Dec and one performance USB per family. Additional USB’s may be requested.
How much are the tickets and when can I buy them? Tickets will be on sale Sat, Nov 14 online only. All seats reserve with tiered pricing between $16-$26 per ticket. NO SDA PRICE INCREASE! DRT may raise fees.
How will we stay informed about the production? All communication will be via EMAIL/GROUPME chat. The regular practice schedule will be on this page in early Nov.
When will we know what cast we are in/when we will be performing? A final cast list will be posted showing what ROLE you are dancing and specific performance groups on Mon Oct 12 (or before). NO SPECIAL REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED after this date.
Can we request a specific cast to be in? You may request a specific cast and we usually honor every request-but please be flexible if you can. Casting is arranged by total # of dancers participating in each level, siblings/families in same cast, previous parts danced, age/ability/height, costume sizing/availability, Nutcracker performing experience, technical and memorization strength. All dancers are cast if participation deposit is received!
What if we go on vacation over Thanksgiving? AQUA-SAGE-SILVER: missing both the weekend before and the weekend after is discouraged. Please try to be in town for either the weekend before or after (preferably BOTH!) Thanksgiving to be in the production.
If we drop out of the show, will the Nut fee be refunded? ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS FOR DECIDING TO QUIT THE SHOW. For dancer injuries, any credit is decided by the director. Missing too many practice’s/unable to perform: no refunds.
Where are the rehearsals and the performances? All practices are at SDA Studios. The only time we’re at LAKOTA EAST HS onstage is Performance Weekend, Dec 18 and 19.
ROSE/VIOLET dancers attend practice on their current regularly scheduled weekly class day/time, plus ONE other class per week-2 practices per week for 3 weeks. 45 min class/practice time: 5:45-6:30 pm Mon-Fri.
AQUA beginning Nov, dancers will attend Friday Nov 6, 13 and 20. Starting Nov 30, dancers will attend practice 3 times a week as scheduled for their cast part, which include FRI whole cast practices 7-9 pm. Nov Noelle extra early practice will be scheduled.
SAGE/SILVER attend as scheduled by cast part beginning Nov 1 and Saturdays Nov 8, 15 and 22. Also- ALL SAGE practice on Wed and Sat in Dec; ALL SILVER on Tues and Sat in Dec. Practices scheduled usually during current weekly class time.
DANCER FEE’S- participation casting/deposit: $50 per dancer Rose/Violet, $75 Aqua, $85 Sage, $105 Silver (non-refundable) will be invoiced Oct 5, due Oct 11, 9 pm. To be cast, participation deposit must be received by Sun Oct 11, 9 pm or dancer will NOT be included in casting. FINAL casting set: Mon Oct 12.
Remainder Tuition/Costume Fees due: Nov 28, invoices sent Nov 23.
Rose/Violet Dancer Fee- $200 (1 role/costume, 2 weekly Dec practices, 2 shows) $50 deposit-$150 due
Aqua Dancer Fee- $300 (1 role/costume, 3 weekly Dec practices, 2-4 shows) $75 deposit-$225 due
Sage Dancer Fee- $360 (2-3 roles/costumes, early Nov and 3 weekly Dec practices, 2-4 shows) $85 deposit-$275 due
Silver Dancer Fee- $460 (2-3 roles/costumes, early Nov and 3-4 weekly Dec practices, 2-4 shows) $105 deposit-$355 due
NUTCRACKER 2026 is coming to SDA and Lakota EAST HS (LEHS), 4 performances Dec 19!
Join us for SDA's 25th SILVER JUBILEE of our timeless and magical holiday ballet performed continuously since 2002!
Production Changes- some parts and MANY costumes have been re-arranged/added to fit our newest Nutty, where we include EVERY dancer wanting to participate, remaining the longest running annual Nutcracker with ONLY STUDENTS performing in the entire area! Showtime: 1 hour-10 minutes, no intermissions.
CASTS: ICICLE- Twinkle 11:15am and Glitter 1:30pm; TINSEL- Sparkle 4pm and Shimmer 6:15pm
- siblings/family dancers in the same cast
- parent work/church related requests honored
- equal age and ability of dancers in each cast
- all dancers cast in TWO performances back-to-back: either the ICICLE performance Cast or the TINSEL performance cast
- Aqua/Sage/Silver dancers may be cast in all 4 performances, Violet dancers can ASK to be in all 4 performances, but may only be cast in 2.
Nutty T-Shirts/Sweatshirts; order online in mid-late Oct, CASH only payments to SDA front desk, email specifics coming separately.
ALL OF THIS is part of SDA's beloved Nutcracker. It’s fun to create, imagining so many beautiful dancers onstage and how that will look with the new backdrop and new costumes! WE LOVE NUTTY! Join us for a very magical season, filled with beautiful dancing and incredible memories!
ROSE-VIOLET Parts: ROSE dancers-POP ROCKS! VIOLET dancers-MINTY SWRILS!
AQUA-SAGE Parts: AQUA dancers-Party Friends, Mouse Queens, Cadettes, Cheerleaders, Fritz, Nutcracker Prince and Noelle! SAGE dancers-Snowdrops, Party Dolls and Flowers!
SILVER PARTS; Adult Party peeps, Snowflakes, Snowdrop Fairie, Snow Queen, Licorice, Turkish Delight, Marzipan, the Rose and the Sugar Plum Fairy!
FINALE-ALL DANCERS!