A Nutcracker 2026: Parent and Performer Rehearsal Guide
Welcome to A Nutcracker 2026 Production Season. Please find the standard Saturday studio schedule and your week-by-week timeline below.
1. Conservatory Division (CD) Schedule
Primary Space: Studio (Weeks 1–12, 14) / Theater (Weeks 13, 15)
Standard Saturday Blocks (Weeks 1–9)
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Technique & Warmup Class
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Snack Break
3:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Rehearsal (Act 2 & Raindrops Mist)
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Mandatory Dinner & Rest Break
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Party/Battle Scene (with Adults Only)
CD Week-by-Week Timeline
Week 1 (Sept 12)
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Technique Class Only
Week 2 (Sept 19)
1:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Technique, Snack, and Rehearsal
Weeks 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
1:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Full Master Schedule Active
Week 4 (Oct 3) — Gala Day Modification
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Technique Only (All rehearsals cancelled after 3:00 PM for the DTS Gala at Mutuus Studio, Georgetown)
Week 10 (Nov 14) — Full Run-Through 1
1:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Class & Snack
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: A Nutcracker Run-through: Parts 1 & 2 - No Costumes (Includes 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner Break)
Week 11 (Nov 21) — Full Studio Dress Rehearsal
1:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Class & Snack
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: A Nutcracker Run-through: Parts 1 & 2 - In Full Costume (Includes 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner Break)
Week 12 (Nov 28) — Thanksgiving Saturday Run
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Full Production Run-through despite absences.
Week 13 (Dec 5) — Show Weekend 1 (Dance Conservatory Seattle)
Friday Dress Rehearsal Timeline:
4:15 PM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Official Cast Warm-Up
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Dress Rehearsal Starts
Saturday Show 1 & 2 Timeline:
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Morning Class
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM: Dancer Break
1:15 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
1:30 PM: Half-Hour Call
2:00 PM: Show 1 Begins
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Post-Show Rest Window
5:15 PM: Dancer Arrival Call (Show 2 - Back in building)
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Stage Available for Personal Warm-Ups
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Show 2 Begins
Sunday: OFF DAY — No classes, rehearsals, or shows scheduled at DCS
Week 14 (Dec 12) — Post-Show Cleanup Run
1:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Class & Snack
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: A Nutcracker Run-through: Parts 1 & 2 - In Full Costume (Includes 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner Break)
Week 15 (Dec 19) — Show Weekend 2 (Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance)
Friday Dress Rehearsal Timeline (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Block): SUBJECT TO CHANGE
4:00 PM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to Behnke Center)
4:15 PM – 5:30 PM: Official Cast Warm-Up
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
5:45 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:15 PM – 9:15 PM: Dress Rehearsal Window (3-hour dress run-through block)
Saturday Show 1 & 2 Timeline:
9:45 AM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to theater)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Class
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM: Dancer Break
1:15 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
1:30 PM: Half-Hour Call
2:00 PM: Show 1 Begins
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Post-Show Rest Window
5:15 PM: Dancer Arrival Call (Show 2 - Back in building)
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Stage Available for Personal Warm-Ups
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Show 2 Begins
Sunday: OFF DAY — No classes, rehearsals, or shows scheduled at the Behnke Center
Note: The production officially wraps on December 19, 2026. The school will reopen on January 5, 2027.
2. Adult Division Schedule (Stars & Party/Battle)
Primary Space: Studio 1 (Weeks 1–12, 14) / Theater (Weeks 13, 15)
Standard Saturday Blocks (Weeks 1–9)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Open Class — Technique Class (Stars Only)
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Rehearsal (Stars Only)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Flex Window (Party/Battle Adults — may be requested based on availability in Weeks 7–9 only)
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Party/Battle Scene (CD & Adults Only)
Adult Week-by-Week Timeline
Week 1 (Sept 12)
No adult rehearsals scheduled
Week 2 (Sept 19) — Stars Start
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only - Class & Rehearsal
Weeks 3 & 5
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Party/Battle Only
Week 4 (Oct 3) — Gala Day Modification
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only (All evening rehearsals cancelled after 3:00 PM)
Week 6 (Oct 17) — Party Scene Kids Start
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Party/Battle Only
Weeks 7–9 (Oct 24 – Nov 7) — Flex Rehearsals
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Flex block based on availability
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Party/Battle Only
Week 10 (Nov 14) & Week 11 (Nov 21) — Run-Throughs
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only - Class & Rehearsal
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Full Adult Cast required for all Run-throughs (Week 11 is in costume. Includes 6:00 PM Dinner Break)
Week 12 (Nov 28) — Thanksgiving Saturday Run
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Morning Class
1:15 PM: Stars Only - Rehearsal
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Full Production Run-through despite absences.
Week 13 (Dec 5) — Show Weekend 1 (Dance Conservatory Seattle)
Friday Dress Rehearsal Timeline:
4:15 PM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to theater)
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Official Cast Warm-Up
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Dress Rehearsal Starts
Saturday Show 1 & 2 Timeline:
9:45 AM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to DCS)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Class
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM: Dancer Break
1:15 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
1:30 PM: Half-Hour Call
2:00 PM: Show 1 Begins
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Post-Show Rest Window
5:15 PM: Dancer Arrival Call (Show 2 - Back in building)
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Stage Available for Personal Warm-Ups
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Show 2 Begins
Sunday: OFF DAY — No classes, rehearsals, or shows scheduled at DCS
Week 14 (Dec 12) — Post-Show Cleanup Run
10:00 AM – 1:15 PM: Stars Only - Class & Rehearsal
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Full Adult Cast run in costume (Includes 6:00 PM Dinner Break)
Week 15 (Dec 19) — Show Weekend 2 (Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance)
Friday Dress Rehearsal Timeline (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Block):
4:00 PM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to Behnke Center)
4:15 PM – 5:30 PM: Official Cast Warm-Up
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
5:45 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:15 PM – 9:15 PM: Dress Rehearsal Window (3-hour dress run-through block)
Saturday Show 1 & 2 Timeline:
9:45 AM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to theater)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Class
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM: Dancer Break
1:15 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
1:30 PM: Half-Hour Call
2:00 PM: Show 1 Begins
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Post-Show Rest Window
5:15 PM: Dancer Arrival Call (Show 2 - Back in building)
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Stage Available for Personal Warm-Ups
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Show 2 Begins
Sunday: OFF DAY — No classes, rehearsals, or shows scheduled at the Behnke Cent
Note: The production officially wraps on December 19, 2026. The school will reopen on January 5, 2027.
3. Foundational & Beginner Divisions (FD/BD)
Primary Space: Studio 2 (Weeks 5–9 staggered) / Studio 1 (Weeks 6–9 Party / Full Runs) / Theater (Weeks 13, 15)
Standard Saturday Blocks (Weeks 1–9)
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Salmon Rehearsal (Studio 2)
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Helpers Rehearsal (Studio 2)
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Pixies Rehearsal (Studio 2)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Party Scene Kids Rehearsal (Studio 1 - starts Week 6)
FD/BD Week-by-Week Timeline
Weeks 1–4
No rehearsals scheduled
Week 5 (Oct 10) — Salmon, Helpers, Pixies Start
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Studio 2 Standard Blocks
Weeks 6–9 — Party Scene Kids Start
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Studio 2 Standard Blocks
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Party Scene Kids in Studio 1
Week 10 (Nov 14) — Full Run-Through 1
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: All FD/BD dancers report for full Run-throughs: Parts 1 & 2 - No Costumes (Includes 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner/Rest Break)
Week 11 (Nov 21) — Full Studio Dress Rehearsal
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: All FD/BD dancers report for full Run-throughs: Parts 1 & 2 - In Full Costume (Includes 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner/Rest Break)
Week 12 (Nov 28) — Thanksgiving Saturday Run
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Full Production Run-through despite absences.
Week 13 (Dec 5) — Show Weekend 1 (Dance Conservatory Seattle)
Friday Dress Rehearsal Timeline:
4:15 PM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to theater)
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Official Cast Warm-Up
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Dress Rehearsal Starts
Saturday Show 1 & 2 Timeline:
9:45 AM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to DCS for morning block)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Class
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM: Dancer Break
1:15 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
1:30 PM: Half-Hour Call
2:00 PM: Show 1 Begins
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Post-Show Rest Window
5:15 PM: Dancer Arrival Call (Show 2 - Back in building)
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Stage Available for Personal Warm-Ups
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Show 2 Begins
Sunday: OFF DAY — No classes, rehearsals, or shows scheduled at DCS
Week 14 (Dec 12) — Post-Show Cleanup Run
3:15 PM – 8:00 PM: All FD/BD dancers report for full Run-throughs: Parts 1 & 2 - In Full Costume (Includes 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner/Rest Break)
Week 15 (Dec 19) — Show Weekend 2 (Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance)
Friday Dress Rehearsal Timeline (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM Block):
4:00 PM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to Behnke Center)
4:15 PM – 5:30 PM: Official Cast Warm-Up
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
5:45 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:15 PM – 9:15 PM: Dress Rehearsal Window (3-hour dress run-through block)
Saturday Show 1 & 2 Timeline:
9:45 AM: Dancer Arrival & Check-In (Report to theater for morning block)
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Saturday Class
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM: Dancer Break
1:15 PM: Clear Stage & Costume Prep
1:30 PM: Half-Hour Call
2:00 PM: Show 1 Begins
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Post-Show Rest Window
5:15 PM: Dancer Arrival Call (Show 2 - Back in building)
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Stage Available for Personal Warm-Ups
6:00 PM: Half-Hour Call
6:30 PM: Show 2 Begins
Sunday: OFF DAY — No classes, rehearsals, or shows scheduled at the Behnke Center
Note: The production officially wraps on December 19, 2026. The school will reopen on January 5, 2027.