Von Heidecke holds 'Nutcracker' auditions

Students and dancers are invited to audition for the Von Heidecke Dance Center School on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1239 S. Naper Blvd., Naperville.

Selected dancers from the school will be invited to participate in the professional production of the Chicago Festival Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker," but are not obligated to participate.

Students from the school also will be invited to appear on the dance center's float in the Naperville Last Fling Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 7. Parent volunteers will be needed to walk with the float.

Children also may participate in the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade on State Street in downtown Chicago, which is filmed for television around the world.

Auditions will take place according to the following schedule:

• 11 to 11:30 a.m.: dancers ages 3-6;

• 11:30 a.m. to noon: dancers ages 7-10;

• Noon to 1 p.m.: dancers age 11 to professional level.

Dancers must arrive 30 minutes before their age group's start time to register. The audition fee is $5 per student. Preregistrations are welcome. Audition forms and information on the school are available at www.chicagofestivalballet.com.

The Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet will present "The Nutcracker," choreographed by Kenneth Von Heidecke locally at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet and the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage.

Children auditioning for placement in Von Heidecke's Dance Center will have the opportunity of being selected to appear in the Rialto Square Theater's production of "The Nutcracker."

The more advanced dancers will have the opportunity to go on tour with the professional troupe this season to perform with the Danville Symphony Orchestra.

"Very few ballet schools, if any, tour out-of-state with professionals, but it's such a wonderful experience for the students," Von Heidecke said. "For example, when we took 'The Nutcracker' to Miami, we received a thunderous standing ovation, and Miami's mayor came on stage and presented me with the key to the city."

"The Nutcracker" performance dates are as follows:

• 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet;

• 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at Danville Symphony Orchestra, Danville;

• 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Sunday, Dec. 20, at McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn

For details, call (630) 527-1052.