Young Vancouver dancer at centre stage in National Ballet’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’

A Vancouver dancer has landed the lead role in the National Ballet’s annual festive show "The Nutcracker."

Angus Crerar started dancing when he was seven years old. Now, he’s centre-stage at the national level.

“Maybe the most significant event that’s sort of happened since me being here is being chosen as Misha (in The Nutcracker),” Crerar told CTV News.

“It was unexpected because I’m in my first year and in Grade 9.”

Crerar is part of the Professional Ballet-Academic Program with Canada’s National Ballet School.

“I came here for a week to see what it was like and I really, really liked it and, of course, it’s such a dream to be here,” he said. “So then I went to summer intensive and now I’m here.”

The program travels across the country holding auditions for students to join the summer intensive program, which is a month of dancing every day.

“The National Ballet School has Olympic caliber of training that it can provide if students want to pursue a little bit more intense training and opportunity to have academic in the one campus as well as residence,” explained Talar Margarosyan, a teacher and scout with the school.

“(It gives them) the opportunity to come and feel that how it (is to) be in the dance world from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.”

Auditions for the summer and full-time programs began in Vancouver Friday and will continue Saturday. Students in Grades 6 through 12 were invited from across the province, with some of those auditioning as young as age 10.

“If I get an opportunity to go or do bigger stuff, it will be so much more fun,” said Scarlette, a 10-year-old dancer from Mission.

“I think it’s like you get to express something without speaking,” said River, of her love to dance.

“I think obviously I’d have to, like, work really hard,” she added, considering the prospect of a successful audition.

“I think it would mean a lot.”

Vancouver resident Alexis was no stranger to the audition process, even at age 10.

“It’s just so exciting because I did this summer course last year, and I had so much fun with it,” she said.

Travelling to 11 cities, the auditions will pick dancers to move onto Stage 2 of the recruitment process. Those selected after Stage 2 will begin both academic and athletic training in September. Students in Grades 6 to 8 will be invited for a month in July, while those in Grades 9 and higher will be invited for a one-week audition starting in January.

“Today, we are looking for the young dancers, or dancers who have the heart and desire to become a dancer, to invite to our second stage audition, which is going to be in July and give them the opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Margarosyan.

And a dream it is, said Crerar of his first year with the program.

“Being in The Nutcracker, it’s such a privilege and such of course an amazing opportunity,” he said. “I’m so, so grateful that I’m here.”