Dances Patrelle has announced auditions on September 26 & 27, 2026 for the 30th Anniversary Season of Francis Patrelle’s The Yorkville Nutcracker, at Ballet Academy East, 1651 3rd Ave., 3rd Floor, NYC. To register, visit dancespatrelle.org.

Audition Schedule:

Dancers ages 10-12 | September 26 | 4pm check-in
Dancers ages 6-7 | September 27 | 4pm check-in
Dancers ages 8-9 | September 27 | 5:30pm check-in
Dancers ages 13+ | September 27 | 4pm check-in
Male and female dancers, with ladies en pointe

All youth auditions will include a parent info/Q&A session. For more information, please contact Nutcracker@dancespatrelle.org.

For 30 years, Francis Patrelle’s The Yorkville Nutcracker has delighted New York City audiences with its uniquely local retelling of the beloved holiday classic.

​

Created by Dances Patrelle founder Francis Patrelle, this cherished family tradition reimagines The Nutcracker through the lens of New York City. Set on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 1895, the story follows young Mary as she embarks on a magical holiday adventure through some of the city’s most iconic landmarks and beloved traditions.

​

From a festive holiday celebration at Gracie Mansion to a dazzling journey through the city, The Yorkville Nutcracker captures the wonder, history, and spirit of New York in a way unlike any other production. Featuring professional dancers performing alongside talented young artists, the ballet has become a treasured holiday experience for generations of families.

​

More than a performance, The Yorkville Nutcracker is a celebration of community, imagination, and the enduring magic of the holiday season.

Join us as we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this beloved New York City tradition and the first Yorkville Nutcracker under Artistic Director Christopher Charles McDaniel.

“As we celebrate 30 years of The Yorkville Nutcracker, I’m excited to welcome returning dancers and new faces into this beloved New York tradition. This production has created meaningful artistic experiences and lifelong memories for generations, and I can’t wait to see who will help bring this milestone season to life,” says Christopher.

Dances Patrelle (dP) is a dynamic professional ballet company celebrating its 39th year! dP presents two annual seasons in New York – the timeless holiday tradition, The Yorkville Nutcracker, and a spring repertory season featuring world premieres and classic Patrelle favorites. Mr. Patrelle’s body of work includes over 50 original ballets choreographed for Dances Patrelle, and spans an incredibly wide range of styles, from his beloved American Songbook collection to such contemporary classics as Madame X, Macbeth and Rhapsody in Blue. Heralded by Lynn Garafola in Dance Magazine as a choreographer with “a personal vision…classical because it is rooted in metaphor and symbolic language [and] populist because of its legibility and broad cultural resonance.” Patrelle has also cultivated a long-time collaboration with composer Patrick Soluri, commissioning four original scores including 2009’s Murder at the Masque for dP’s 20th Anniversary. Known for attracting the great talent of each generation, Dances Patrelle is pleased to count ballet stars such as Marcelo Gomes, Jenifer Ringer, Donald Williams, Lourdes Lopez, and Cynthia Gregory among its dancers. For 39 seasons, Dances Patrelle has tapped into the human experience, connecting intimately with the audience and continuously reinventing dramatic dance.

“In Francis Patrelle’s ballets, the characters come alive. His choreography is full of heart and soul.” – Cynthia Gregory, Prima Ballerina

#