Professional Ballet-Academic Program | Canada's National Ballet School

The Next Level of Ballet Training

As one of the only schools in North America to offer Olympic-calibre dance training, academic instruction and residence care all on one campus, our Professional Ballet-Academic Program is home to students in grades 6 to 12 from across Canada and around the world.

 

Our progressive dance curriculum emphasizes students' physical and emotional well-being, and has put NBS at the forefront of dance training. Our internationally-recognized program pursues cutting-edge innovations in training practices to support the new generation of ballet artists.

Our dance training pedagogy is unique to NBS, integrating elements from the best in progressive and acclaimed classical ballet training methods, contemporary dance and the latest advances in the science of movement. With the values of equity, diversity and inclusion prioritized and embedded within the culture of our organization, our students develop as both talented dancers and as engaged citizens.

Grade 6-12 students take classes in contemporary repertoire and technique, improvisation, drama and expression, historical/character dance and anatomy, as well as ballet classes focusing on variations, repertoire, pas de deux and more. Our dance program is further enhanced through world-renowned guest teachers with expertise in ballet and other dance forms.


What students can expect in the Professional Ballet-Academic Program:

  • Dance training interwoven with academic studies each day.

  • An academic year running from September to June.

  • For daily ballet training, students can spend between 2-4 hours in the dance studio daily. During our annual summer school program, this can increase to 3-5 hours.

  • Senior grades will have opportunities for unique exchange programs with our affiliation network of 24 international partner schools.

  • Performance opportunities throughout the year, including opportunities for junior students to perform in The National Ballet of Canada's The Nutcracker.

 

Download our Professional Ballet Program brochure (PDF) here

Register for an audition (in-person or video)

Register for an audition (in-person or video)

Take the leap and audition for our Professional Ballet-Academic Program! Annual auditions take place in-person and through video submission for dancers across Canada and worldwide.

 

The audition process takes place in two stages:

  • Stage One: Audition in-person or through video. Students who have successfully auditioned will be invited to Stage Two of the process. 

  • Stage Two: Students grades 6-8 will attend Summer School. Students grades 9-Company Life Program will join for a 1-week audition experience between January and April at NBS. Students who have successfully auditioned will be invited to join the full-time Professional Ballet Program for the 2025/2026 school year.

Alumni on the World Stage

An NBS education gives you the tools for success on any career path you take. Many of our alumni are among the most celebrated professional dancers who have made their mark on the world stage. Check out some of our alumni below!


  • Siphesihle November, National Ballet of Canada

  • Emma Hawes, English National Ballet

  • Isabella Gasparini, The Royal Ballet

  • Ryan Tomash, Royal Danish Ballet

  • Jessica Xuan, Dutch National Ballet

 

  • Martin ten Kortenaar, Staatsballett Berlin

  • Alexander Bozinoff, Royal Danish Ballet

  • Wilma Giglio, Royal Danish Ballet

  • Yuriko Kajiya, Houston Ballet 

  • Jason Reilly, Stuttgart Ballet

  • Brendan Saye, Wiener Staatsoper

  • And many more!

Artistic Health

We are committed to developing confident, self-aware dancers capable of fully exploring their artistic potential. We continue to pioneer the use of health professionals to support this goal. Our one-of-a-kind Artistic Health Department supports our students' health and wellbeing.


Our onsite specialists include nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, social workers and nutritionists; consultants are also available to individual students upon request. For residence students, a pediatrician is on call and consulted as needed. As an arts education and training organization, we understand the responsibility of supporting student health and wellness, especially given the demands of Olympic-calibre training. Our Artisitc Health Department supports the full circle of care for dancers.

 

Explore our Artistic Health Department here.

 

Did you know? 

NBS has a Research Institute! Learn more about its unique mission to support best practices in dance training here.

Student Exchanges

With a network of 24 partner schools from Montreal to Winnipeg, New York, Australia, Germany and beyond, NBS students have the opportunity to experience the best of the dance world through exchange!


At NBS, we strongly believe that training experience in other professional ballet schools and exposure to different teaching styles broadens a student's dancing and performance skills. Our senior students are encouraged to spend at least one summer school abroad, studying ballet at one of our international partner schools. Exchanges support dancers in building lifelong networks, enhancing their dance knowledge, and preparing them for the rigours of a professional company environment. These opportunities keep the global dance community thriving!

Ballet Staff

Our staff bring passion and professionalism to their teaching. They combine a love of dance with years of experience and training expertise.


From garnering their own experiences on the world stage to honing their dance teaching skills through the Teacher Training Program at NBS, our ballet teachers excel at what they do while modeling lifelong learning for their students. Our ballet teachers  lead the charge on innovation and evolution of ballet training art form.

 

Get to know our ballet staff

Performance Opportunities

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.


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 Nutrcacker

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

 

Did you know?

190+ NBS dancers perform in The Nutcracker each year. The leads rehearse for 60+ hours.

PBP module health and safety
Dancers taking part in NBS’ exchange program pose smiling together.
Two ballet teachers pose with two of their students during a rehearsal
Two dancers perform in Jera Wolfe’s Arise onstage.

Academic Studies

Exceptional teachers, ESL support, an engaging range of subjects, and an academic building right on the NBS campus help provide students with a high-quality academic education, alongside their dance training. By integrating artistic, academic, and life skills education, NBS prepares students for success in all areas of life.

 

Students are held to a high standard at NBS and we are committed to helping every student thrive and achieve very successful outcomes from their academic experience. This commitment is reflected in the importance and value we place on completing a secondary school education. As an Ontario Ministry of Education inspected school, NBS follows the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum where students will graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.  

 

Although most graduates go on to dance professionally, we ensure that our students are well prepared for post-secondary education and whatever career path a student chooses to pursue. Graduates from NBS who apply to university have been highly successful in post-secondary admission around the world and in a wide variety of fields including business, engineering, health sciences, social sciences, humanities and dance. 

 

NBS provides a rigorous academic program in the Junior-Intermediate School (Grades 6–8) and the Senior School (Grades 9–12). NBS is a full-year, non-semestered school, and all academic courses run from September to June. This structure enables the academic and dance departments to coordinate efforts and ensure students are supported during the various special activities and events planned throughout the year. 

 

Did you know? NBS students excel in the studio AND the classroom! Each year, the majority of our graduating class graduates as Ontario Scholars, having achieved an average of 80%+.  

Our Academic Staff

Our Academic Staff

Our staff are highly skilled at working with students from all around the world and provide a warm and caring learning environment where all students feel welcomed and supported.

 

The academic faculty know students learn most effectively when they are engaged and interested and are committed to programming rich experiences for our students. They understand that the wellbeing of each student underpins academic success and are dedicated to authentically knowing each student. Academic expectations for our students are high, tailored to the learners and follow the Ontario Ministry of Education expectations.

 

The academic department has approximately twenty teachers, including special education, ESL, an educational assistant, a librarian, an administrative assistant, an academic principal, and an academic vice principal. We are also very fortunate to have a dedicated guidance counsellor to support students with their post-secondary planning and application process.   

Academics FAQ

How is ESL Support Provided?

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 enable English language learners 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 gradeand 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. 

What does a day look like for an NBS Student?

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 

 

What academic courses are available for students to take?

NBS offers a dynamic range of courses for students. Click here to view a sample list of course offerings for secondary students (in grades 9-12).

 

Do students receive support in academic planning?

NBS offers robust career planning support for students. The School incorporates guidance education and career planning through its Careers course and through support from our Academic Vice-Principal/Guidance Counsellor who works with students as groups and individuals.  All students, especially those in Grade 10, 11 and 12, have the opportunity to access one-on-one career counselling and post-secondary guidance throughout their school year. 

Living in Residence

NBS is the only school in North America to provide residence, dance training and academics all on the same campus. NBS students who live in residence experience a wonderful combination of modern and historical architecture. Our main residence building is steps away from the Celia Franca Centre and Margaret McCain Academic Building. 

 

Our specially trained residence staff are friendly and caring, and take their responsibilities very seriously. They respect the special and specific needs of each student and work diligently to create a comfortable and safe home away from home for each of our students.

 

NBS residence students take their meals onsite at either the Celia Franca Centre or in the residence dining area at Currie Hall. There is ample space for students to relax and socialize in the games room before and after their homework is completed, or practise their favourite instrument in the music room. They can also spend time with friends in the lounge area of their residence floor where they can watch TV, make a snack, chat and play board games.

 

For Day Students and Boarding Students alike, life at NBS offers both the fulfilling experience of being in a thriving educational environment alongside key leadership opportunities. From Student Council to the yearbook committee, art fashion show to performances and assemblies, candy grams and other fundraisers to school dances and picnics and more, the student life experience at NBS is both rich and abundant. In addition, students often sit on planning committees with our staff to bring their voices and participation to events that engage a broader audience of stakeholders and supporters. They also join their peers from ballet schools around the world to help drive decision-making for key international initiatives such as Assemblée Internationale, World Ballet School Day and more.

 

Living in Residence

Currie Hall Residence.

Student residence is a relaxing home away from home

Student residence is a relaxing home away from home

Students enjoy expertly planned meals

Academic classes take place in the same building as all dance training classes

Academic classes take place in the same building as all dance training classes

International student connections from the 2017 Assemblé Internationale

International student connections from the 2017 Assemblé Internationale

Visite du Celia Franca Center du campus de Toronto de l’ÉNB

Campus Virtual Tour

This is a great way to see our school grounds and experience what it feels like to walk around on campus at NBS.

Arise

New & Now

Discover more about life at NBS and see what’s happening around campus and what’s up and coming on stage!

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Erin Miller, Parent

“I couldn’t have asked for a better fit or a better program for my son. I’m so glad that he’s there, because he’s safe and he’s taken care of, and he’s getting the training that he needs. Most importantly, he’s becoming this amazing human being, and he’s really able to bloom at NBS.”

Photograph of Jungun Park in ballet performance

Jane Park, Student

“I’ve always thought of NBS to be supportive, but when the lockdown happened because of Covid, they showed more support than ever before. Because they stayed connected with the students and with the parents, they helped us to stay resilient.”

Photograph by Johan Persson

Johan Persson, Alumnus

“What wasn’t obvious during my time at NBS was the effect my schooling would have on my second career. There are skills that are transferable from a dance education to the role of photographer [such as] persistence, discipline, hard work and professionalism."

Fees and Financial Assistance

Canada's National Ballet School is a publicly-subsidized professional training institution. For most programs, the School charges tuition fees which cover only a portion of the real costs.

 

Student Financial Assistance Packages
Since its inception, NBS' 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. Assistance is available to all students in the full-time Professional Ballet Program—i.e. Gr. 6-12 and the Post-Secondary Program. Families wishing to apply for financial assistance must complete a detailed application and all requests are individually evaluated on the basis of each family's particular needs

Full-Time Fees
For students in grades 6 to 11, full-time fees for both tuition and residence are based on the school year (September to July); tuition and residence fees for July Summer School are included. Various options are available for the payment of fees. Where payment has been approved in installments, post-dated cheques must be provided to the School according to the student's individual fee contract.

International Students
All international students require a Study Permit for courses longer than six months in length.  For information about acquiring a Study Permit please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
 

*Additional fees include $110 for Registration, $16 for Accident Insurance, $90 (optional) for Yearbook, and $500 for Grade 12/CLP Audition Portfolios. International students will also pay an additional $630 for Elite Student Protection health insurance. The fee for Elite Student Protection can be waived with proof of private health insurance coverage. These amounts are subject to change.

      

Day Students

Boarding Students

Canadian Students

$22,500*

$44,160*

International Students

$40,010*

$61,670*

Let's get
In Touch

If you have any questions about the Professional Ballet-Academic Program, including inquiries about auditions, please email registrar@nbs-enb.ca.