BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Eugene Ballet Company is inviting dancers in the Wood River Valley to audition for roles in its professional production of “The Nutcracker Ballet” on Saturday, Sept. 9.

The company will perform the classic Christmas ballet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Community Campus in Hailey. Local dancers ages 5 and older will have the opportunity to perform as baby mice, angels, bon bons, party children and flowers alongside professionals in the ballet, which is sponsored by the College of Southern Idaho.

Auditions will start at 10 a.m. at Footlight Dance Centre in the Community Campus. The audition is fee. Dancers should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their audition time, in dance clothing, ready to dance.

Latecomers will not be allowed to audition.

Those who are chosen for the show will be asked to pay an additional $5 instructional fee and will be required to attend Saturday rehearsals in November and December.

“The last time they came to present this holiday classic was in 2015—this is a great opportunity for children to dance with professionals,” said Hilarie Neely, director of Footlight Dance Centre.

Rehearsal times for baby mice, ages 5-7, will be from 10-10:30 a.m.; angels, ages 7-9, from 10:30-11 a.m.; bon bons, ages 9-11, from 11 a.m.-noon; party children, ages 11-15, from noon-1:30 p.m. and flowers, ages 13 and older, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

For information, contact CSI at 208-788-2033 or Footlight Dance Centre at 208-578-5462.