Frequently Asked Questions

For the ballet class, please wear your usual ballet attire, including ballet slippers (no skirts please). If you are new to ballet, you can wear a one-piece bathing suit, bodysuit, or tightly fitting t-shirt, and leggings or shorts with socks. 

For in-person auditions, dancers will experience a ballet class by one of NBS’ artistic faculty, usually accompanied live by a pianist. The audition is structured similar to a typical ballet class, so the format should feel very familiar to many dancers! Before the class begins, dancers will have time in the studio to warm-up and meet the teachers.  

There isn't a specific number of years of experience required for any audition. The level of experience is unique to each dancer, and our goal is for everyone who auditions during the first and second stage auditions to enjoy their experience and feel comfortable and confident. Consider your own personal goals for auditioning and whether your experience might match existing students at the School in your grade level.  

There is an audition fee of $50 CAD for both in-person and video auditions. 

There is no preference given to when dancers audition or what format they audition in. Choose the format and timing that best suits your schedule, location, and personal preference.  

Generally dancers can expect to hear back about the results of their first stage audition within two weeks following their in-person audition. Dancers who submit video auditions may receive their response in a slightly longer time frame. 
 

Dancers may audition once per school year. We welcome dancers to re-audition the following school year. 

No, dancers are not able to defer their offer of admission to the following school year. We are always happy to discuss the path to re-auditioning with each individual and family to ensure it is clear and supportive. 

Approximately 50 students are invited to join the full-time Professional Ballet Program every year, after having successfully completed both stages of the audition process. 

Deadlines to submit a video audition are variable. Suggested timelines for submitting a video audition are available in the registration portal. We endeavour to accept videos for as long as we can, but encourage students to submit as soon as they are able.
 

Yes! When registering for your audition, you can select to audition for the Full-Time program and Summer Intensive Experience or just the Summer Intensive Experience.

We do not offer individualized feedback due to the number of students who audition each year. We encourage students to discuss their goals and auditions with their primary ballet instructor, as they are their best guide in their dancing journey.

Yes, NBS offers an extensive financial assistance program for full-time students and their families. Since its inception, our policy is to accept students solely on the basis of talent, with efforts focused on ensuring that families' financial circumstances are not a barrier for any eligible student to attend.   

Our needs-based financial assistance program awards upwards of $3-4 million annually, in renewable terms. The majority of families in our full-time program receive comprehensive Student Financial Assistance packages at a level that is customized according to each family’s need.  

This support goes beyond a simple one-time scholarship—it covers up to 100% of their tuition, residence, and meal fees for their entire time at NBS.   

Assistance is available to all students, including Domestic and International students, in the full-time Professional Ballet Program—i.e. Gr. 6-12 and the Company Life Program. Families wishing to apply for financial assistance must complete a detailed third-party application and all requests are individually evaluated on the basis of each family's particular needs.  

NBS provides a well-rounded and balanced education, with a schedule designed to support students in reaching their potential in dance training, academics, and beyond. Academic classes for the senior students occur in the morning followed by dance in the afternoon. Junior students begin their day dancing and attend academics in the afternoon. Students have a full day, averaging four to five hours of academic classes, and four or more hours of dance, conditioning, and dance-related activities. Schedules vary by grade, day, and student. 

SAMPLE SCHEDULE GRADES 6-8 

Example of one day of a five-day schedule: 

SAMPLE SCHEDULE GRADES 9-12 

Day 1 

For detailed information about our robust academics program, including academics-focused FAQs, click here. 

An NBS education gives you the tools for success on any career path you take. Our Alumni have made significant strides as celebrated ballet dancers, beloved dance teachers, world-renowned choreographers, trailblazing artistic directors, leaders in the arts, social change-makers, doctors, academics, psychologists, lawyers, and so much more. 

Our Alumni have a prominent presence on the world stage in over 80 ballet and dance companies—you may recognize many of their names! 

• Siphe November (Dutch National Ballet) 
• Emma Hawes (English National Ballet) 
• Isabella Gasparini (The Royal Ballet) 
• Ryan Tomash (New York City Ballet and Royal Danish Ballet) 
• Jessica Xuan (Dutch National Ballet) 
• Hannah Fischer (Miami City Ballet) 
• Martin ten Kortenaar (Dutch National Ballet) 
• Alexander Bozinoff (Royal Danish Ballet) 
• Wilma Giglio (Royal Danish Ballet) 
• Yuriko Kajiya (Houston Ballet) 
• Jason Reilly (Stuttgart Ballet) 
• And many others! 

NBS’ student community includes students from across Canada and around the world.  Students from more than 17 countries call NBS home, and there are many opportunities for ESL support. Learning opportunities to develop proficiency in English are integrated into the curriculum in all subject areas. All teachers share in the responsibility for the English language development of these students. Teachers adapt the instructional program to address students’ different levels of proficiency in English and help students adjust to a new linguistic, cultural and educational environment.  

NBS offers five levels of ESL courses (ESLAO, ESLBO, ESLCO, ESLDO and ESLEO) regardless of secondary school grade and all of these are credit courses. The ESL teacher assesses the language skills of English language learners at the time of their entrance into the school and designs a program appropriate to their needs and abilities. All ESL courses emphasize listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in order to help students succeed in other academic courses and to prepare them for more advanced ESL courses or a mainstream English class. In addition to language teaching, the teacher helps students adjust to the new cultural environment and to integrate into the school setting and dance environment. Various levels of ESL support will be provided to students as long as it is necessary and beneficial for the student. 

Performances are a crucial and memorable part of the NBS training experience. Students work with a range of world-class choreographers to expand their artistic and technical potential. Some of our performance opportunities may include: 

Spring Showcase 

Spring Showcase is a cherished annual tradition at NBS and an invaluable performance opportunity for our Professional Ballet Program students. Students have the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers like Jera Wolfe, Esie Mensah, NBS Alumni James Kudelka, Aszure Barton, Robert Binet, among others. They will also explore the iconic works of August Bournonville, George Balanchine, and Marius Petipa. 

The Nutcracker 

Each year, our students contribute to the holiday magic of the National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker, performing a range of roles including the young leads Misha and Marie. They take the stage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and perform for hundreds of thousands of audience members.

International Performances 

NBS students often have unique opportunities to perform on the world stage as a result of our international partnerships and collaborations. Recently, dancers performed at the Holland Dance Festival, the International Junior Ballet Encounters in Cannes, France as well as the Prix de Lausanne partner choreographic workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland.  

View more Performance Opportunities here!