r/BALLET • u/ThrowRA_livinglife • 23h ago

Any recs for adult dancer performance opportunities?

I'm an advanced level 21 year old student (en pointe for the last 8 months) looking for performance opportunities for adults, which I'm discovering are shockingly hard to find!

I danced for 6 years in my childhood, performing each of those years, and only had to stop because my single mom couldn't afford my studio's fees and the 30 minute drive to and from. I started consistently dancing again 2 years ago at age 19, and I'm so happy with the progress I've made thus far!

My biggest goal is to finally be in the Nutcracker, as well as any other productions that would take me. But, most companies/theaters in my area (San Diego CA) only let people under 18 perform, and the only one that I've found with open adult auditions is charging a $180 audition/commitment fee with no guarantee of casting (too much for me as a full time working student already on food stamps!)

Do you folks have any advice for finding adult performance opportunities, or perhaps even places in my area that cater to adult dancers? I've spent most of my childhood/adolescence on stage, whether dancing or in drama/theatre groups, and I miss so much being able to work towards a production together with my fellow dancers!

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u/firebirdleap 21h ago

You're in luck because San Diego has a good size adult ballet community with lots of performance opportunities ESPECIALLY if you're comfortable performing on pointe. BalletCenter and Balletiquette both cast their adults in the Nutcracker. There are performance fees ranging from 180-300 BUT you are guaranteed casting and there are no addition casting fees. They've both probably already finished with their auditions so it may be too late for this year but there is always next year. Both do have spring shows too though.

I believe Stage 7 does something as well.

DM me and I'll happily share more info.

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u/summerhibiscus 23h ago

Performing Arts Workshop in Encinitas has adults in their Nutcracker and an adult amateur company that performs multiple times per year https://www.dancepaw.com/nutcracker

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u/ThrowRA_livinglife 22h ago

Oh awesome thanks so much!

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u/ProfessionalAnnual36 8h ago

In my country (Poland) we have a small studio (Les Ballets de Pologne) in capitol, mostly for adults and we have a company, where the solois is the owner of the studio and paid profesionals prince, any other roles are for adults and 90% of them started as a teens or adult. Everybody from this studio can try to perform - beginners do simple things or just walk, more advanced pas de quatre, corpse de ballet. We dont paid at all for the rehersals (rare) and for the opportunity to dance on stage!