2025–26 Season

The Nutcracker Bird Performance: Youth Division: Theater Guide and Packing List

  • Theater Terminology

  • Packing List

  • Oakland Scottish Rite Center Drop Off/Pick Up Policies

  • Dancer and Guardian Expectations

  • Covid Policies

(1) Theater Terminology:

  • “Call time” refers to the time a dancer needs to arrive at their rehearsal or performance location. Please note uniform, makeup, and hair expectations for your call time.

  • “Full Call Rehearsal” takes place in-studio and allows all participating dancers to run their entire performance together.

  • “Technical Rehearsal” (Tech Rehearsal) is part of Theater Week and takes place at the performance location and allows dancers to learn their spacing, entrances, and exits on stage while technical crew work with the show.

  • “Dress Rehearsal” is part of Theater Week, takes place at the performance location, and runs exactly like a performance.

  • “Dismissal time” is the time we expect dancers to be ready for pickup. Please arrive at the pickup location and go through the checkout process to pick up your dancer. Please do not ask your dancer to meet you at your car.

(2) Packing List:

All dancers must bring the following items in a dance bag to every Technical Rehearsal, Dress Rehearsal, and Performance; dancers who arrive unprepared may not be able to perform. Please feel welcome to reach out to BBT for assistance as you gather these items. BBT Faculty members will assist your dancer by using your dancer’s provided items as they prepare for performances. Please label all items with a dancer’s name in permanent marker.

  • Please check your dancer’s shoes now in case you need to purchase new shoes.

  • BBT Youth Division uniform, worn upon arrival with warm layers on top

  • Black color, skin-tight biker shorts; dancers do not wear tights with costumes

  • Dancers may not wear any jewelry or nail polish; fingernails/toenails should be trimmed short.

  • Underwear is not worn under Youth Division uniform leotard

  • Dancers arrive with a mask in bag

  • Dancers with a warm-up class bring one extra leotard

  • Clean and unscuffed ballet flat and/or pointe shoes matching dancer’s skin tone

  • Pointe Syllabus dancers bring thick socks or slippers to wear over pointe shoes

  • Dancers may elect to wear nude undergarments (bras/flesh tone leotard) if necessary;

  • Nude leotards are a requirement for dancers in Levels 5–9

  • Dance belt and scout belt for applicable dancers

  • Sweatpants (no new items that can leave fuzzy pieces)

  • Zip or button-up shirts, hoodies, and jackets; please only bring items that do not need to be pulled over head to avoid interaction with hair and makeup

  • Puffy, warm jackets and plenty of layers; it can get cold at the theater!

  • Hand towel

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Hair supplies: brush and comb, gel or hairspray, hair elastics, hairnets, hairpins

  • Pointe Syllabus dancers should have two useable pairs of pointe shoes pancaked to match their skin tone and extra pointe shoe sewing supplies

  • Makeup, makeup remover

  • Personal mirror for makeup

  • Books, journals, homework and other quiet activities

  • Water bottle

  • Healthy snacks and meals

(3) Oakland Scottish Rite Center: Drop Off/Pick Up Policies:

Youth Division Introduction to Level 1 through Level 6, Drop-off:

  • Dancers arrive at the BBT studios and the Oakland Scottish Rite Center theater in their BBT uniform with street clothing layered on top.

  • Dancers should be dropped off at the theater by a guardian for all rehearsals and performances. BBT will have a representative on site to assist with arriving dancers; dancers will be checked in upon arrival.

  • Dancers may either be dropped off by car at the white-curb loading and unloading zone by the front steps OR accompanied to the front door by a parent guardian. Please do not send dancers running across the street on their own! If you are dropping off by car, please ensure that you are letting your dancer out on the same side of the street as the theater. Guardians, please visually confirm that your dancer has been recieved at the door and discuss the importance of street safety precautions with their dancers. Following check-in at the door, dancers will be escorted to the fourth floor to their designated dressing room.

  • Dancers remain in the theater throughout the duration of a performance; dancers will be available for pickup once a performance has concluded.

Youth Division Introduction to Level 1 through Level 6, Pick-up:

  • Guardians should take the elevator/stairs from the first floor lobby to the fourth floor theater location.

  • At the theater level, guardians will be directed to check their dancer out at either the "Red" or "Gold" dressing room. Guardians, please wait at the dressing room door until a BBT representative checks out their dancer. Please be sure that your dancer has been checked out before leaving the theater!

  • Please note that guardians (except each day's volunteers) will not be allowed to enter the dressing room to remove a dancer.

  • We ask for your patience and understanding during pick-up; it takes time for all ten levels of the school to change out of costume, gather belongings, and wait to check out with a BBT representative. Please note your dancer's check out time on the schedule and refrain from lining up outside the dressing room before that time.

Youth Division Level 7 through Level 9 Drop-off and Pick-up:

  • Dancers must check-in upon arrival and check-out before exit. After following the check-out procedure, dancers in Level 7 through 9 may leave the theater unattended. If your Level 7 through 9 dancer cannot travel unattended, please email Executive Director, Ali Griffin: alitl@berkeleyballet.org

(4) Dancer and Guardian Expectations

Dancers are asked to:

  • treat Technical and Dress Rehearsals like performances

  • follow all check-in and check-out procedures

  • practice performance hair, makeup, and costume undergarments at every Theater Week rehearsal

  • be collaborative with and respectful to BBT Faculty and Staff, guest artists,volunteers, and theater staff

Guardians are asked to:

  • ensure that dancers bring quiet, screen-free activities to fill downtime during long rehearsals (eg. books, coloring, homework, puzzles, cards)

  • ensure that dancers bring lots of mess-free snacks and a water bottle for rehearsal; dancers will be spending many hours at rehearsal during Theater Week and will need enough food to last them through the whole rehearsal

  • speak with their dancer about the excitement and responsibility of participating in a production of this size. Please emphasize the importance of listening to instructions the first time in order to stay safe in the theater.

  • ensure that their dancer arrives at the studios or theater properly dressed for a successful rehearsal

(5) Covid Policies:

  • BBT works with federal, state, city, and community guidelines to ensure that dancers can safely participate while experiencing as much training continuity as possible; thought and care are put into planning rehearsal and performance structures capable of supporting COVID-19 protocols.

  • Given the number of dancers who will be working together, if your dancer tests positive for Covid-19 please immediately inform Executive Director Ali Griffin at alitl@berkeleyballet.org

  • Masks are optional for the 2025 The Nutcracker Bird production. If a dancer prefers to wear a mask onstage, please email School Director Courtney Henry at courtneyh@berkeleyballet.org so that Artistic Staff can advise on a mask that best suits their character and costume.