The world renowned Moscow Ballet will hold open auditions in the Chicago area for young dancers to perform in their annual production of the Great Russian Nutcracker. Auditions, held in three different locations in the Chicago area, will take place August 20-22, 2015, at the following locations:

Thurs. Aug. 20: Rebecca McCarthy School of Dance, 3951 W. Algonquin Rd., Algonquin, IL. Ages 6-11 - 4:30 p.m. Ages 12-16 - 6 p.m.

Fri. Aug. 21: Dance Quest, 14511 Van Dyke Rd., Plainfield,IL; Ages 6-11 - 4:30 p.m. Ages 12-16 - 6 p.m.

Sat. Aug. 22: Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.,3rd Fl., Chicago, IL. Ages 6-11 - 10:30 a.m. Ages 12-16 - 12 p.m.

Interested applicants must have prior dance experience, be between 6-16 years old, and a maximum of 5-feet tall. Applicants must arrive a half-hour prior to the audition, be dressed in ballet attire, and bring their printed and signed registration form with them to the audition. Auditions will be conducted by the Moscow Ballet's accomplished demi-soloist Olena Nalyvaiko, and Children's Cast Director Altin Naska. An audition fee of $10 is required.

The open auditions are part of the Moscow Ballet's unique "Dance with Us' program which brings the rare opportunity of auditioning, rehearsing, and performing with a professional, international touring ballet company in the Great Russian Nutcracker to young dance students in North America. Since its inception more than 20 years ago, the "Dance with Us" program has provided this once-in-a-lifetime experience to more than 50,000 student dancers in U.S. and Canadian cities from coast-to-coast.