Local children will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance in the Moscow Ballet’s production of the Russian “Nutcracker” in Joplin.

Auditions will be conducted in Joplin by a Moscow ballet dancer at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Shirley’s Dance Studio, 15th Street and Moffet Avenue. Children auditioning are to bring dance attire and pointe shoes.

Moscow Ballet’s all-Russian cast will tour more than 70 U.S. cities in November and December. As part of the company’s commitment to arts education and cultural exchange, local children age 8 to early teens are selected in each city for roles in act I as party children, mice, angels, snowflakes, and as act 2 pages in Russian, Arabian, French, Chinese and Spanish divertissements. Roles are available for children of all levels of dance training and ability.

Anatoly Emelianov is the new choreographer and artistic director this year. Emelianov, who has danced with Moscow Ballet since its premier U.S. season, is the chief choreographer and founder of the Crown of Russian Ballet Theater. He will act as artistic director of the southern and western companies and has re-choreographed the children’s roles for both casts for the company’s 11 U.S. tour.

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26. Tickets are available at 623-3254.