Each year a team of Canada's National Ballet School artistic staff travel to more than 20 Canadian cities and towns offering Open Classes and auditions. Admission to our Professional Ballet Program is based on a two-stage audition process.
Who can audition?
- Students entering academic grades 6-12 in September 2010.
- Students who have completed high school in a rigorous full-time dance program who wish to prepare for professional careers.
- Students entering Grade 5 in September 2010 may audition for our Introductory Summer School.
Students unable to audition in person may apply by DVD.
Stage One
Stage One consists of an abbreviated class taught by our ballet faculty in the fall in one of 20 or more cities across Canada, or early in the new year at our facilities in Toronto.
The audition class is specially structured to assess a range of qualities including: coordination, musicality, quality of movement and physical suitability for the demands of classical ballet. No special preparation is required, and prior dance training is not essential for children under 12 years of age.
Stage Two – Summer School
Stage Two is for students who have successfully auditioned for the Professional Ballet Program, as well as the Introductory Grade 5 Summer School. It consists of a four-week intensive Summer School at our facilities in Toronto in July 2010. Approximately 180 auditioning students attend dance classes for the four-week period along with returning NBS students.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation and meals are available to both auditioning and returning Ballet Academic students at either NBS or a nearby student residence. Throughout the month, residence staff organize recreational outings for resident students entering grades five through eight. Students auditioning for the Post-Secondary Program are responsible for their own accommodation and meals, though meals may be purchased in the Mona Campbell Square Café.
Ongoing Assessment
During Summer School, students are assessed on their suitability for our classical ballet program. Academic test results and interpersonal skills are also taken into account. Approximately 50 auditioning students will be invited to join the full-time Professional Ballet Program in September. All full-time students are assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to respond positively to the program's broader challenges.
With only a small number of places available each year, we are not able to invite every aspiring dancer into our full-time program. The audition process is designed to be a positive experience. Students are encouraged to maintain their love of dancing and to recognize the many training options available to them besides NBS. Those not invited to join the full-time program are welcome to audition again the following year.
Students entering academic Grade 5 in September 2010 who thrive at the 2010 Introductory Summer School will be encouraged to audition for Summer School 2011. This initial Summer School experience is designed to help students settle comfortably and confidently into the two-stage audition process the following year.