WMYB rehearsals are generally 12:00 – 5pm on Sundays with the last one being the Sunday before the show. We call the last one Super Sunday because it is often a much longer day maybe 10am-6pm (mandatory). For Nutcracker, there is 1 week of choreography in late August (generally the last week) where groups are called in the evening Monday-Thursday. A schedule for choreography week is generally sent a week before. During the performance year, a schedule is sent out on the Monday/Tuesday prior to the following Sunday rehearsal, calling dancer parts & times rehearsing for scheduling.

Our Nutcracker performance dates are typically held the first weekend in December at the Forest Hills Fine Art Center and usually the following weekend at Frauenthal Center in Muskegon, MI. Our spring performances are only held at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center. Actual dates and times will be communicated once they are determined.

The audition will be a “master class”, much like your daughter/son would have in a studio ballet class with barre warm-up and combinations given. No solo dancing is required at the audition. We encourage any new dancers considering the audition to come for the experience of the audition process and to meet/see the artistic director. Parents/guardians are welcome to stay in the waiting area during the audition. Dancers will hear of their acceptance status within five days of the audition via the email address provided at the registration. Please watch for an email from the West Michigan Youth Ballet.

Dress code is black leotard, pink tights, ballet slippers and hair in a bun (girls). Black shorts/pant/tight, white shirt, ballet shoes (boys).

The cost to audition is $25 per dancer and $365 female/ $50 male to participate in the performance. We do offer a sibling discount of $100 per sibling. Cost of audition is due when you register. Payment for the performance is due with your signed dancer’s contract.

Typically, one week before Choreography starts.

The $365 tuition cost covers all of the instruction, studio time and costumes. Depending on the roles you are cast in, there may be a few costume components you will need. Things like specific shoes, briefs, hair piece, etc. Every dancer will need ballet flats, a nude leotard and stage makeup.

YES!!!! We are a parent run organization and welcome all who want to help. In fact, as part of your dancer’s participation at WMYB, we ask that each family donate 20 hours of time during rehearsals and 5 hours of time during performance weekend. We have lots of different tasks that need to get done both at the studio and remotely.