RYDE NUTCRACKER 2024

Performance Dates: December 13th, 14th, 15th, 2024

2024 Audition Schedule

Sunday, September 8th

All Company, Prep 6 | 10:00 a.m.
Older Boys | 10:00 a.m.
All Ensemble | 12:00 p.m.
Ballet 7, 7B, 8/9, 8B | 2:00 p.m.
Young Boys | 3:30 p.m.
Call Backs | 4:00 p.m.

Audition Information

The mission of the Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble is to provide an enriching educational arts experience for children in Rockland County and the surrounding area. We at RYDE believe that the process of auditioning and rehearsing is invaluable for young students and the performance of their work completes this experience. Our performances this year have been booked at Rockland Community College. Please be aware that all performances are subject to change.

Our guidelines for the audition process are below. In order to take part in auditions and performances, all participants must sign the accompanying waiver/release document to confirm their understanding of the guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to create a meaningful and successful experience for this year’s performers!

AUDITION PROCESS

1. Sign up, register and pay for your audition online. 

2. Audition information and call time will also be available on our website. Please make sure you have discussed with your child that casting is done with fairness and integrity on the part of the auditioning staff and is final.

3. The cost to audition and participate in this year’s production is $250 per dancer plus a minimum of 10 hours of volunteer time. We realize that some families are unable to give their time to volunteer with our production needs, so we have designed a buyout program as an alternative. Money raised through the volunteer buyout program will be used to cover costs accrued in your volunteering absence.

4. Parent/guardian must sign up for a/several volunteer committee(s) or opt for the volunteer buyout as part of audition registration for each dancer. This is a required field on the audition registration form.

Volunteer buyout program will be an additional $150. In other words, audition/participation cost and buyout will come to $400 total.

4. Casting: Audition results will be posted on our website. All decisions are based on students’ current technical and artistic abilities. By signing up to audition you are agreeing to accept the decisions made by the auditioning panel. Casting is done with care and integrity. Emails, letters, phone calls and other communication that disputes or questions decisions made by staff will go unanswered. If unhappy with the casting decision, your child is free to decline the role. Please note that Audition fees are non-refundable.

AUDITION AND PARTICIPATION SAFETY GUIDELINES

• Please arrive at the studio at 15 minutes before your call time and line up outside the building.
• Students will be met by a volunteer and be given their audition number. Please pin this number on your child’s leotard, at chest height.
• Students are expected to follow all studio and dance company safety policies, agree to all rules and regulations, and sign all documents and waivers before auditioning.

ALL GUIDELINES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS RYDE MAY DETERMINE DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES ARE APPROPRIATE.

(Please download, read and agree to the Participant’s Pledge and read, agree to, and sign the Assumption of Risk, Release & Waiver of Liability, Indemnification and Consent Agreement.)

Participant’s Pledge and Assumption of Risk, Release & Waiver of Liability, Indemnification and Consent Agreement

Participant’s Pledge

As a participant (dancer, parent or guardian of a minor dancer) I agree to:

1. Follow all the directions given  by a member of the RYDE company, including, teachers, coaches, all volunteers and anyone involved in the production.
2. Follow all guidelines at all times while auditioning, rehearsing or working on the production.
3. Do not attend auditions or rehearsals if sick. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to rehearsals.
4. Wash hands or use sanitize before auditioning, rehearsing or working on the production.
5. Observe all other safety steps as RYDE may require.
6. Accept the casting decisions made by the auditioning panel.

Moreover, I understand that:

1. Posting any negative comments, photographs, or the like on any social media platform, including but not limited to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat will result in instant removal from the production.
2. Audition fees are non-refundable.
3. My family is required to help with or donate to at least one fundraising event.
4. Parents must pick up students from rehearsals on time. RYDE staff are not responsible for children waiting for late parents to arrive after rehearsals
5. Performers must attend all scheduled ballet classes or equivalent number of hours a week to maintain their technique, strength, and stamina for the role they have been cast in.
6. My family is responsible for getting me to all my rehearsals. If two rehearsals are missed, I may be removed from the production.
7. As detailed in the following Assumption of Risk, Release & Waiver of Liability, Indemnification and Consent Agreement, I am participating at my own risk and I will not hold RYDE, RYDE’s board members or any members of the 2023 production staff, volunteers or other performers responsible for any injuries or illness that I may have during the audition, rehearsal or production period.
8. Performers may be asked for proof of vaccination and may be required to take a COVID test prior to performing.

Assumption of Risk, Release & Waiver of Liability, Indemnification and Consent Agreement

***INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO COVID-19***

This Assumption of Risk, Waiver & Release of Liability and Consent Agreement (“Release”) is to be read and signed by any person participating in the 2023 RYDE auditions for and production of the Nutcracker (the “RYDE Nutcracker”), whether as a dancer, volunteer, or parent or legal guardian of a dancer or volunteer or in any other capacity. The RYDE Nutcracker is a production of the Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble, Inc. (herein, “RYDE”).

Please read THE FOLLOWING before signing:

In consideration of my being permitted to participate in the RYDE Nutcracker, I acknowledge, understand and agree to each of the following: 

1. The Participant’s Pledge.

2. The risks from participating in the RYDE Nutcracker in the context of the COVID-19 PANDEMIC are greater than in non-pandemic times and are significant and include RISK OF SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY,PERMANENT DISABILITY AND DEATH DUE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS. Specifically, I understand that state of medical knowledge, including about safety practices for trying to avoid the virus, continues to evolve and that RYDE cannot prevent me or my child from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading the COVID-19 virus while engaged in any of the RYDE Nutcracker activities, and that by participating in the RYDE Nutcracker I may be exposing myself and my child to and/or increasing our risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. 

3. I KNOWLINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL RISKS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE RYDE NUTCRACKER, both known and unknown and including both the risks of (i) participating in dance activities and (ii) being exposed to and contracting and spreading COVID-19, EVEN IF ARISING FROM NEGLIGENCE of those persons released from liability under this Release, and I assume full responsibility for my participation in the RYDE Nutcracker. 

4. For myself and on behalf of my heirs, successors, and assigns, I HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS  RYDE, the participants in the RYDE Nutcracker, the owners and lessees of any premises used to conduct the RYDE Nutcracker, and each of their respective trustees, officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, sponsors and parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies (Releasees), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY I MAY INCUR RELATING TO THE RYDE NUTCRACKER AS WELL ANY AND ALL INJURY I MAY INCUR RELATING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY, PERMANENT DISABILITY, AND DEATH,  or any and all loss or damage to my property, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE. 

5. For myself and on behalf of my heirs, successors and assigns, I HEREBY WAIVE MY RIGHTS TO MAKE ANY CLAIM AND INDEMNIFY AND HOLD RELEASEES HARMLESS  from any claim, cost, damage, charge or expense relating to or arising out of any claim concerning the RYDE Nutcracker, including but not limited to the reasonable legal fees and court costs of Releasees through all levels of trial and appeal. Moreover, in the event I contract COVID-19, I HEREBY INDEMNIFY AND HOLD RELEASEES HARMLESS FROM ANY THIRD-PARTY CLAIM, from any third-party claim, cost, damage, charge or expense relating to or arising out of such illness, including but not limited to the reasonable legal fees and court costs of Releasees through all levels of trial and appeal.  

6. My participation in the RYDE Nutcracker may be recorded in audio and visual formats. I hereby consent to such recording and to the use of my name, voice and likeness for publicity and promotion of RYDE, in all manner and media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity and throughout the world. I acknowledge that no compensation will be owed to me in connection with this consent and that there is no obligation to use me in the promotion of RYDE or the RYDE Nutcracker. 

7. This Release covers each and every audition, rehearsal, performance or other event in which I participate today or hereafter concerning the RYDE Nutcracker. This release is governed by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising under this Release shall be adjudicated exclusively in the courts of Rockland County, New York, or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and all Parties consent to personal jurisdiction and venue therein. If any provision of this Release is hereafter held to be invalid, such holding will not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement. 

* * *

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE.  I FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS AND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT. I HEREBY SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY. NO PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO INDUCE ME TO SIGN THIS RELEASE. 

Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _____________________

Name: ___________________________________________ Age: _______________________

Email: ___________________________________________ Phone: _____________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

FOR MINOR AGE PARTICIPANT (Under age 18): I am the parent/guardian with legal responsibility for this participant, and do consent and agree to the above participant’s agreement to this Release and I also agree to release all Releasees and indemnify and hold them harmless to the extent set forth in paragraphs 3 and 4 above from any and all liabilities, cost, damage or expense (including legal fees) arising in any way out of participant’s participation in the RYDE Nutcracker. I hereby bind myself and my heirs, successors and assigns to this Release. NO PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO INDUCE ME TO SIGN THIS RELEASE.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________

Print Name: _____________________________________ Date: ______________________

Nutcracker 2024 Audition Registration and Fee

All fields are required. Please submit a separate form for each dancer auditioning.

All parents are required to sign up for a volunteer committee, or pay the optional buyout fee. For committee descriptions, click here.

NOTE: Please make sure to check the box for the audition fee ($250), and, if appropriate, the box for the optional volunteer buyout fee ($150). If you are not redirected to PayPal to complete your transaction, please contact us at rydenutcracker@gmail.com.

For committee descriptions, click here.