Local Briefs - Davidson

children’s auditions for nashville ballet’s nutcracker

Middle Tennessee boys and girls who want to grace the stage and be part of the magic of Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker this season can audition on Sundays, Sept. 13 and 20. Children must be at least 8 years old by Friday, Dec. 31, 2010. Ages 12 and older must be School of Nashville Ballet students. Girls should wear proper dance attire, and boys should wear shorts and a T-shirt. Participants must bring a full-body photograph, and there is a $10 audition fee. The audition schedule for both days is as follows:

• Boys 7 - 11: Register at 11 a.m.; audition from 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Girls 7 - 9: Register at 11 a.m.; audition from 12 - 1 p.m.
• Girls 10 - 11: Register at 12 p.m.; audition from 1 - 2 p.m.
• Boys and girls 12 - 13: Register at 1 p.m.; audition from 2 - 3 p.m.
• Boys and girls 14 and older: Register at 2 p.m.; audition from 3 - 4 p.m.

Auditions take place at the Martin Center for Dance, 3630 Redmon St., Nashville. For more information, call Rachel Norfleet at 297-2966, ext. 20, or e-mail her at rnorfleet@nashvilleballet.com.

taca gets more kid friendly

The TACA Fall Crafts Fair takes place Sept. 24 - 26 at Centennial Park (2500 West End Ave., Nashville), and this year, the fair features more children’s activities than ever before. “The children who visit the fair are our most precious resource,” says Elaine Wood, TACA’s executive director. “These are the artists, collectors and supporters of the next generation of fine craft, and we are so excited to offer activities to engage those young minds.” The children’s area will feature several hands-on activities, from jewelry making to creating dream catchers ... or they can create a Dale Chihuly-inspired work of mixed media. In addition, Nashville Public Library’s Puppet Truck will present The Frog Prince on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and 1, 12:30 and 2 p.m. Learn more at www.tennesseecrafts.org.

new kids’ activities at parent-teacher store

Looking for something new and fun for your kids to do each month? Super Saturdays takes place on the first Saturday of each month at The Parent-Teacher Store, and kids of all ages can have fun with games and activities on the interactive kids’ table. Kids can also dive into a craft activity that has a theme related to the month while enjoying cookies and lemonade. The free activities take place during regular store hours, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Parent-Teacher Store is located at 2214 Bandywood Drive, Nashville. Call 292-3533 or visit parent-www.teacherstoreusa.com.

church hosts family literacy event

Moms and dads can learn additional skills for keeping their kids reading at home during Family Literacy Night at Immanuel Church - The Nazarene (7125 Charlotte Pike, Nashville) on Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 6 - 7 p.m. Parents of preschoolers and school-age children can learn practical literacy skills to utilize at home with their kids, and they will be able to make and take activities to keep their youngsters engaged with a passion for reading. The free event also includes complimentary child care. For more information about Family Literacy Night, contact Dustin Bilbrey at 473-8130.

momshell offers new fall classes

Looking for a fun way to get fit with your kids? Check out Momshell Fitness’ new class offerings. ZuMOMba is an hour-long dance workout where participants move and groove to age-appropriate hip-hop, ’80s hits and classic party tunes. For the smaller set, Kindermusik will begin after Monday, Sept. 6 for moms and their preschoolers to enjoy music and movement fun. The Kids Dance/Fitness class resumes this month as well, combining dance and fitness with yoga and nutrition education. Class times and prices vary. Momshell Fitness is located at 2907 12th Ave. S., Nashville. For more details, call 429-5968 or visit www.momshellfitness.com and click on the “Momshell Kids” tab.