Roxey Ballet Will Stage Nutcracker In 2021: Vaccines Mandatory

LAMBERTVILLE, NJ — The local contemporary ballet company Roxey Ballet is holding auditions for this year's production of The Nutcracker on Sep. 11.

Many ballet companies and schools around the country stage a large production of the classic show in December each year. But COVID-19 changed plans for theater and dance professionals.

Hunterdon County currently has a "high" level of COVID-19 transmission according to the CDC, with 119.8 positive cases per 100,000 people. Of Hunterdon County's population 12 and older, 64.6 percent are fully vaccinated — a choice shown by data to be the best chance of slowing virus spread.

Knowing this, Lambertville's arts non-profit hopes to return to form with mandatory vaccination for performers 12 and older, frequent cleanings of studios and rehearsal rooms, and limiting studio occupancy to performers-only.

"Students and/or parents must report if they have come in any contact with a person who has been diagnosed or has symptoms of Covid-19," a news release on New Jersey Stage said. "If a student is not feeling well or has a temperature above 99.5, they should stay home. If a student does attend rehearsal and is found to have a temperature above 99.5 or states they are not feeling well, they will not be permitted to rehearse and be asked to go home."

Auditions will be held between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., and broken up by age group beginning with those between the ages of four and six and ending with those older than 14, according to the news release. Young dancers wishing to participate must be enrolled in at least one ballet class at The Mill Ballet School — the official school of Roxey Ballet — or another studio.

Rehearsals will begin Saturday, Sep. 18 at 2:30 p.m. with a mandatory meeting of cast member and performers. Cast members should expect regular rehearsals on Saturdays between 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with additional rehearsals for certain roles taking place on Sundays or Friday evenings.

Auditioning costs $35, and it costs $285 to participate if selected for the production.

Roxey Ballet is a professional company that has performed around the country, including at President Obama's inauguration in 2008. In addition to their schooling efforts, 12 professional artists currently call the dance company home.

"The Roxey Ballet makes every effort to be totally accessible physically and programmatically," a mission statement on the company website reads. "We welcome and educate artists with disabilities, cultural diversity, of varying genders and promote equality for their greater fulfillment and experience. We come from diversity and are proud of our commitment to anti-racism, equity and inclusion."

Auditions for The Nutcracker will be held in person at 243 North Union St., and dancers must register to audition by 12 p.m. on Sep. 8. Learn more about auditioning here.

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