Alexander Academy dancers perform in their annual presentation of the holiday season ballet favorite The Nutcracker. Auditions begin Aug. 16. Photo courtesy Chelsea Fine

Auditions for Alexander Academy of Performing Arts presentation of “The Nutcracker” will be Aug. 16 at the academy’s space in the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center,

Academy studio director Danelle Watson said auditions for Clara and Fritz, sister and brother in the ballet, will take place from 1:45- 2:15 p.m. Aug. 16. Auditioners for these two roles should be ages 8 to 13 and under 5 feet tall.

Auditions for corps and feature roles will be from 2:15-3:15 p.m. Dancers should be at intermediate through advanced levels. Corps de ballet features the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” and the “Waltz of the Flower,” according to Watson.

Watson said potential cast members should arrive early. Dancers should have their hair pulled back and wear leotards, tights and ballet shoes or pointe shoes if auditioners own them.

Watson said audition fees are $15 for Clara and Firitz. Those not registered with the academy

must sign a liability waiver form.

Performances are Dec. 13-14 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Each year at Christmas, ballet companies across the country stage performances of the Christmas classic. Based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s book “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” the ballet, composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, was first performed in Russia in December 1892.

The story is universally known, as is the cast of main characters, Clara,The Nutcracker, The Mouse King, Herr Drosselmeyer and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Clara’s little brother, Fritz, appears at the beginning of the ballet, at the Christmas Eve party hosted at their parents’ house. Fritz, in a fit of jealousy, breaks Clara’s beloved Nutcracker. It is Fritz’s toy soldiers that come to life to fight the Mouse King’s army of mice.

Watson said the cast list will be announced by email approximately one week after the auditions are completed.

Rehearsals will be announced and will include Saturday afternoons. For more, go to www.alexanderacademy.info or email office@alexanderacademy.info.