City Ballet
of Maryland
Upper School · Pre-Junior 3 dancers and up

2026 Nutcracker &
Holiday Production

Master rehearsal, performance, and cast schedule for City Ballet of Maryland.

Important: Please review all rehearsal and performance dates carefully.
September 24 - December 14, 2026 Last updated October 12, 2026

Calendar

Rehearsals & performances

Times shown in Eastern Time.

DateTimeRehearsal / EventWho / Instructor
Thu, Sept. 245:00-6:00 PMSpanish & Lead Russian Choreography Learning LabSpanish & Lead Russian - Kristen
Thu, Sept. 246:30-7:00 PMClara Rehearsal #1Clara - Faunai
Mon, Sept. 287:00-8:00 PMChinese Choreography Learning LabChinese - Kristen
Thu, Oct. 15:00-6:00 PMMarzipan Choreography Learning LabMarzipan - Kristen No Pre-Junior 3
Fri, Oct. 25:00-6:00 PMWaltz of the Flowers Learning Lab - Part 1Flowers + Dew Drop - Cyra
Fri, Oct. 27:00-8:00 PMBallet 5:8 Master ClassUpper School dancers $30 per dancer
Mon, Oct. 5CanceledNutcracker Rehearsal - Arabian Moved to Oct. 12Arabian - Faunai
Wed, Oct. 75:00-5:40 PMNutcracker Rehearsal - Spanish RescheduledSpanish
Wed, Oct. 75:40-6:10 PMNutcracker Rehearsal - Chinese RescheduledChinese
Thu, Oct. 85:00-5:30 PMNutcracker Rehearsal - Marzipan Continued / RescheduledMarzipan - Kristen
Thu, Oct. 86:30-7:00 PMNutcracker Rehearsal - Clara #2Clara - Faunai
Fri, Oct. 97:00-8:00 PMNutcracker Rehearsal - AngelsAngels - Cyra
Sat, Oct. 1011:30 AM-1:00 PMMouse Queen & Nutcracker Fight Scene #1Clara (Lyric) + Mouse Queen (Ellis Byrd) + Nutcracker (Terrell) - Choreographer: TK
Mon, Oct. 127:00-7:30 PMSugar Plum Rehearsal #1Sugar Plum - Kristen
Mon, Oct. 127:30-8:30 PMNutcracker Rehearsal - Arabian Rescheduled from Oct. 5Arabian - Faunai
Fri, Oct. 167:00-8:00 PMWaltz of the Flowers Learning Lab - Part 2Flowers + Dew Drop - Cyra
Mon, Oct. 197:00-7:30 PMSugar Plum Rehearsal #2Sugar Plum - Kristen
Thu, Oct. 226:30-7:00 PMClara Rehearsal #3Clara - Faunai
Sat, Oct. 2411:00 AM-1:00 PMCBM Fall FestivalCBM dancers
Mon, Oct. 267:00-7:30 PMSugar Plum Rehearsal #3Sugar Plum - Kristen
Fri, Oct. 305:00-8:00 PMFull Nutcracker Run-Through #1 - Halloween RehearsalFull cast - Halloween costumes welcome; costume contest
Fri, Oct. 308:00–9:30 PMHalloween PartyPre-Junior 2 & up — following rehearsal
Mon–Sat, Nov. 2–7During regularly scheduled classesCostume Preview Week
(see more details below)		Upper School dancers
Mon, Nov. 27:00-7:30 PMSugar Plum Rehearsal #4Sugar Plum - Kristen
Thu, Nov. 56:30-7:00 PMClara Rehearsal #4Clara - Faunai
Sat, Nov. 711:30 AM-1:00 PMMouse Queen & Nutcracker Fight Scene #2Clara (Lyric) + Mouse Queen (Ellis Byrd) + Nutcracker (Terrell) - Choreographer: TK
Mon–Sat, Nov. 9–14See division picture times belowCostume Pickup & Picture Week
(see more details below)		Upper School dancers
Wed, Nov. 11During regularly scheduled classesCostume Pickup — Juniors & Up
(see more details below)		Juniors, Seniors & Pre-Pro dancers
Take costumes home to pancake them before Saturday’s pictures and dress rehearsal.
Thu, Nov. 125:00–6:00 PMPicture Day & Costume PickupPre-Junior 3
Sat, Nov. 14Studio opens 9:30 AM
Pictures 10:00–10:45 AM
Rehearsal 11:00 AM–1:00 PM		Picture Day & Full Nutcracker Dress Rehearsal #2 In costume
Run-through: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Gnomes, spacing & cleanup: 12:30–1:00 PM		Remaining Upper School dancers No Pre-Junior 3
Mon–Sat, Nov. 16–21During regularly scheduled classesParent Observation WeekUpper School families
Thu, Nov. 196:30-7:00 PMClara Rehearsal #5Clara - Faunai
Tue, Nov. 245:00-7:00 PMFestival of Trees RehearsalFestival of Trees performers
Sun, Nov. 292:30 PMFestival of Trees PerformanceHoliday Tour performers
Thu, Dec. 35:00-8:00 PMFull Nutcracker Run-Through #3 In costumeFull cast
Sat, Dec. 5Call time: 9:00 AM
Parade start: 10:00 AM		White Marsh Holiday ParadeHoliday Tour participants
Mon, Dec. 75:00-8:00 PMNutcracker Show Week RehearsalFull cast
Tue, Dec. 85:00-8:00 PMNutcracker Show Week Dress Rehearsal In costumeFull cast
Wed, Dec. 95:00-8:00 PMNutcracker Show Week RehearsalFull cast
Thu, Dec. 105:00-8:00 PMFinal Dress / Full Run-Through In costumeFull cast
Fri, Dec. 11-Rest Day - No RehearsalFull cast
Sat, Dec. 121:00 PMThe Nutcracker - Performance 1Scheduled cast
Sat, Dec. 126:00 PMThe Nutcracker - Performance 2Upper School + scheduled cast
Sun, Dec. 131:00 PMThe Nutcracker - Performance 3Scheduled cast
Mon, Dec. 147:00-8:00 PMRonald McDonald House Holiday PerformanceHoliday Tour performers

November preparation

Costumes, pictures & family updates

Costume Preview Week | November 2–7

Dancers will try on their costumes during their regularly scheduled classes. We’ll take a quick preview photo to share privately with you so you can see your dancer in costume and view the fit. If any adjustments or exchanges are needed, we’ll notify you after Costume Preview Week. Families whose costumes are still arriving will also receive an update. Costumes will remain at the studio until picture week.

Costume Pickup & Picture Week | November 9–14

Juniors and up will take their costumes home on Wednesday, November 11, during their regularly scheduled classes so they can pancake their costumes before Saturday’s pictures and dress rehearsal. Bring the prepared costumes back on Saturday, November 14, and arrive in costume with hair and makeup fully completed. Pre-Junior 3 dancers should arrive on Thursday with hair and makeup complete, change into their costumes at the studio, and take their costumes home after their picture session. Packages (merchandise orders) for Juniors and up will go home after Saturday’s dress rehearsal.

Saturday, November 14 · Pictures & Dress Rehearsal

Please arrive in costume with hair and makeup complete, ready for pictures to begin at 10:00 AM. Juniors and up must bring back the costumes picked up on Wednesday, November 11, prepared and pancaked. Pictures end promptly at 10:45 AM; late arrivals will miss this picture session.

Pre-Junior 3 dancers have pictures on Thursday and do not attend the November 14 rehearsal.

Hair & makeup

Hair: Ballet bun for Upper School dancers, except Pre-Pro II and Seniors, who wear a French roll for their dances. A French-roll tutorial will be shared when available.

Makeup: Light foundation, silver eyeshadow, mascara, enhanced eyebrows, pink blush, and red lipstick. Add three adhesive rhinestones beside the eyes and false lashes to embellish the eyes.

Parent Observation Week | November 16–21

We look forward to welcoming parents into their dancers’ regularly scheduled classes to see their progress and enjoy a glimpse of what they’ve been learning. Class-specific observation details will be shared before the week begins.

Please read

Production notes

01

Snowflakes

Rehearse during their regular Wednesday rehearsal time; no additional rehearsal is listed here.

02

Dew Drop

Rehearses with Waltz of the Flowers; no separate rehearsal is needed.

03

Clara

Attends dedicated Clara rehearsals, both Mouse Queen/Nutcracker fight-scene rehearsals, and all full-cast run-throughs.

04

Festival of Trees

Performance is confirmed for Sunday, November 29 at 2:30 PM.

05

Holiday Tour

Dancers are not required to participate in every holiday event. Families may select the performances that work for their schedule.

06

Schedule conflicts

Please report known conflicts as soon as possible.

The Nutcracker

2026 cast list

Featured roles

Clara
Lyric Caligone
Sugar Plum
Taliyah McColl
Dew Drop
Cora Neal
Snow Queen
Zoe Sanders
Lead Spanish
Peighton Hazell
Arabian Soloist
Payton Robinson
Lead Chinese
Bella Freedom
Lead Marzipan
Isla Duncan
Mother Ginger
Carlissa Archie
Lead Russian
Joelle Caprio
Lead Angel
Isabella Russell
Mouse Queen
Ellis Byrd
Nutcracker - Fight Scene
Terrell Kellam
Nutcracker Prince
Antrel McDowell

Ensemble roles

Waltz of the Snowflakes
Pre-Junior 3 and Up
Mice
Pre-Junior 1
Soldiers
Juniors
Angels
Avery, Yejide, Laila and Caroline
Spanish
Phynix P. and Carter S.
Chinese
Sophie S. and Lyric C.
Marzipan
Kruiz N., Lucia F. and Pre-Junior 3
Candy Canes
Pre-Junior 2 - with Mother Ginger
Russian
Pre-Academy
Waltz of the Flowers
Pre-Pro II and Senior Dancers