The Professional Ballet Program at Canada's National Ballet School provides full-time ballet and academic training to students from Grade 6 to 12 as well as a Post-Secondary Program. Canada's National Ballet School is the only ballet school in North America to offer ballet training, academics and residence facilities all in one campus. There are approximately 150 students in the Professional Ballet Program (PBP), which combines a professional ballet curriculum with academic classes for Grades 6 through 12.
Students in the Professional Ballet Program come from across Canada and around the world, and approximately two-thirds of the students live on site at our newly renovated and refurbished residence. Learn more about our Residence facilities.
Canada's National Ballet School prides itself that talent is the sole criterion for entry at NBS. Upon acceptance into the full-time Professional Ballet Program all students, regardless of financial means, are subsidized through fundraising efforts. Learn more about how to support NBS.
Each Fall/Winter, a team of Canada's National Ballet School artistic staff travel across the country on a National Audition Tour (NAT), stopping in 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. The NAT is the first stage while the Summer School Program is the second stage.
Who can audition?
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Students entering academic grades 6-12 in September 2012.
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Students entering Grade 5 in September 2012 may audition for the Introductory Summer School.
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Students who have completed high school in a rigorous full-time dance program who wish to prepare for professional careers.
Students unable to audition in person may apply by DVD.
Stage One – National Audition Tour, held in over 20 locations across Canada
Stage One of the audition process is an abbreviated class taught by a member of NBS' artistic faculty. 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.
Parents/Guardians are welcome to observe these audition classes, and invitations to attend Stage Two of the audition process, Summer School, will be offered following the class.
Stage Two – Summer School
Stage Two of NBS' audition process is for students who have successfully auditioned for the Professional Ballet Program or the Introductory Grade 5 Summer School. It consists of a four-week intensive Summer School at NBS' state-of-the-art facilities in Toronto each July. Approximately 150 auditioning students attend dance classes for the four-week period along with returning NBS students.
This period is more relaxed than NBS' formal school year, due partly to the fact that there are no academic classes and there are many fun activities and outings planned for the hours not spent dancing.
As talent is the sole criterion for acceptance into NBS' Professional Ballet Program, financial support is available according to each family's needs. To accurately determine the degree of support required, parent(s) must apply for financial assistance annually and every case is individually assessed. Some financial assistance opportunities also exist for Summer School. For further details, please contact
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Meals, Accommodation & Extra-Curricular Activities
Accommodation and meals are available at NBS to all Summer School students, both returning Professional Ballet Program students and auditioning students. Day students (those students attending Summer School but not living in NBS' Residence facilities) may bring their own lunch or purchase a lunch in the Mona Campbell Square Café.
NBS strives to be a nut-free environment, and we ask all parents and students to assist the School in maintaining a safe environment for all students, by not bringing nuts and nut-products into the School facilities.
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.
Throughout Summer School, residence staff organize recreational outings for resident students. Sample activities include attending a Blue Jays game, going to Ontario Place, participating in on-site movie nights, talent shows and more. Learn more about recreational activities.
Ongoing Assessment
During Summer School, students are assessed on their suitability for NBS' 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 each year, while 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, it's not possible to invite every aspiring dancer into the 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 2012 who thrive at the 2012 Introductory Summer School will be encouraged to audition for Summer School 2013. This initial Summer School experience is designed to help students settle comfortably and confidently into the two-stage audition process the following year.