Goh Ballet has expanded to new studios at Oakridge Centre—and this weekend, as part of that venue's open house, it will host public Nutcracker rehearsals.

It's the 10th year the ballet mainstay, which until now has been based only out of its heritage spot on Main Street, will stage the holiday classic.

Visitors will be able to tour the three newly renovated studios, which have their own parking-lot entrance at a mall that is dramatically reimagining itself, with a strong arts focus.

The massive Oakridge Centre redevelopment is geared for full completion in 2025. The new multistorey shopping centre will almost double its size to about one million square feet, with new parks, residential towers, and other amenities. The project team has five architectural firms, including project lead Henriquez Partners Architects. Visitors to the mall this weekend can check out the Unwritten Exhibition—an open house about the massive plans for the site.

Meanwhile, this year Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker will take place at a new venue, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, from December 21 to 23 (not the Centre for Performing Arts where it has traditionally been held).

Goh Oakridge's open rehearsals will take place Sunday (November 4) from from 11 am to 3 pm. 

Along with behind-the-scenes glimpses of the company preparing choreographer Anne-Marie Holmes's rendition of The Nutcracker, the ballet training program, which is celebrating 40 years, will host free ballet dance classes open to all levels, and a contest to win opening-night tickets. See and register for the special events happening at the studios here.