Press Release: CASTING CALL! New York City Ballet Will Hold Auditions for Local Children in Firebird for Saratoga Performing Arts Center Season

February 28, 2023

CASTING CALL! New York City Ballet Will Hold Auditions for Local Children in Firebird for Saratoga Performing Arts Center Season

Auditions will be held virtually

No in-person auditions will take place this year

Saratoga Springs, NY – New York City Ballet will virtually audition area children to perform in the company’s production of Firebird by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins during its summer residency at SPAC from July 18 – 22.

Casting for Firebird includes roles for 14 girls from 9-12 years old who are between 4 feet 7 inches and 5 feet tall. Understudies will also be cast. Applicants should have some ballet training; however, there is no real dancing involved in these roles.

The children who are selected will rehearse on Wednesday, July 19 and Thursday, July 20 from 4-6pm at the SPAC School of the Arts studios located behind the National Museum of Dance. The final rehearsal will take place on the afternoon of Friday, July 21 (exact times TBD) in the SPAC Amphitheater. Performances will be held at 7:30pm on July 21 and at 2pm on July 22.

Selected children and accompanying adults must adhere to protocols imposed by Saratoga Performing Arts Center and New York City Ballet related to COVID-19.

Scheduled for two performances on July 21 at 7:30 p.m. and July 22 at 2 p.m., Firebird will be featured as part of a program that also includes Balanchine’s Swan Lake and Robbins’ Fancy Free. Firebird illustrates an enchanting Russian fairytale and the fantastical creatures of its strange world with stunning sets and costumes designed by Marc Chagall. The children appear in the last wedding tableau.

Video submissions must be included as part of the virtual audition form found HERE. All audition submissions are due by March 31. Visit spac.org for more details or click here.