Academy Registration
2026-2027
Class Enrollment is now open!
Important Dates
September 8 - Academy Classes Begin
September 26 - The Nutcracker & Alice in Wonderland Auditions
October 5-8 - Bring a Friend to Class Week
October 10 - Fall Ballet - Shall We Dance: An Evening with Tony Bennett
November 22 - Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Fundraiser
Western Arkansas Ballet Open Auditions for:
The 41st Annual The Nutcracker &
Alice in Wonderland, Spring Ballet 2027
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Western Arkansas Ballet, a non-profit performing arts organization, will hold open auditions for the 41st annual production of The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland, the Spring 2027 Ballet. Candidates should be at least 6 years of age with at least one year of experience in dance and/or gymnastics or be currently enrolled in dance classes at Western Arkansas Ballet. Parts are available for adults and boys with little or no dance experience. Dancers 5 years of age may audition for parts in The Nutcracker only.
The Audition times are listed below:
Girls & Boys age 5 from 10:00am-11:00am (Nutcracker Only)
Girls & Boys ages 6, 7 & 8 will be from 10:00 am-12:00 Noon
Girls & Boys ages 9, 10 & 11 will be from 12:15 pm to 2:15 pm
Girls & Boys ages 12 & up will be from 2:30 pm-4:00 pm
Auditions are held at the Western Arkansas Ballet Studio, 4701 Grand Avenue in Fort Smith, AR. Please wear appropriate dance clothing. The cost to audition for both The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland is $80 ($50 is refundable if you are not cast). The cost to audition for a single performance only is $65 ($50 is refundable if you are not cast).
Western Arkansas Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker includes a cast of over 100 local youth and adults including members from WAB’s Academy and Pre-Professional Company. Guest Artists from across the country will join the local cast in this holiday tradition. Performances take place on Saturday, December 19 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, December 20 at 2:00 pm. at the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center 55 S. Seventh Street, Fort Smith. Alice in Wonderland, will take place Saturday, April 3, 2027 at 7 pm and Sunday, April 4, 2027 at 2 pm. at the Van Buren Fine Arts Center 2001 Pointer Trail, Van Buren. Visit waballet.org for more information on auditions and performances.
Western Arkansas Ballet to Host “Shall We Dance: Dances to the Music of Tony Bennett”
Join Western Arkansas Ballet for “Shall We Dance: Dances to the Music of Tony Bennett”, Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Van Buren High School Fine Arts Center at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Western Arkansas Ballet Company dancers perform in two acts including one act of original choreography and another with dances featuring contemporary ballet to the music of “Tony Bennett. Selections include “My Favorite Things”, “Because of You” and “That’s Entertainment” among others. This one-night-only performance offers an evening of sophistication, nostalgia, and fun! The performance run time is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes including intermission. The Van Buren High School Fine Arts Center located at 2001 East Pointer Trail, Van Buren, Arkansas. All seating is General Admission, and tickets are $15 each. Early bird ticket pricing is available until September 14, 2026. All proceeds support Western Arkansas Ballet, a 501c3 nonprofit dance academy and pre-professional company, providing quality dance education, training, and performance in a non-competitive environment for over four decades.
Made possible by:
Western Arkansas Ballet is a nonprofit dance Academy and Regional Ballet Company located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and dedicated to providing quality dance education and training in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, creative movement as well as adult classes in ballet & tap. Our focus on dance education and performance includes the whole community in two full-length performances each season.
